Michel Fournier to leave French government to lead rural mayors association

Michel Fournier, the French Minister Delegate for Rurality, has announced his intention to leave the government. His departure is expected to become effective early next week.

Fournier plans to return to the Association des maires ruraux de France (AMRF), an organization he previously led until 2020. Matignon confirmed that this transition had been planned for a long time and was discussed as early as his appointment to the government in October 2025.

Regarding the reorganization of his responsibilities, Françoise Gatel, the Minister in charge of Territorial Planning and Decentralization, is expected to take over the Rurality portfolio. This arrangement would allow the existing ministry to absorb the duties without the need for a new specific ministerial appointment.