2019 in France

Incumbents

• President – Emmanuel Macron
• Prime Minister – Édouard Philippe

  Events

January">Portal:Current events/January 2019">January

• 12 January - 2019 Paris explosion: An explosion occurs at a bakery on Rue de Trevise in Paris' 9th arrondissement, killing four people and injuring forty-seven others.
• 14 January - The Brest University Hospital Center becomes the first hospital in the world to acquire a PET scan.
• 15 January - Launch of the Great National Debate
• 22 January - Signing of the Aachen Treaty in Aachen, 56 years to the day after the signing of the Élysée Treaty

  February">Portal:Current events/February 2019">February

• 5 February - February 2019 Paris fire: A suspected arson at an apartment block on Rue Erlanger in Paris' 16th arrondissement kills ten people, making it the deadliest fire in Paris since 2005.
• 6 February - Matthieu Orphelin, member of the French National Assembly for Maine-et-Loire's 1st constituency, close to the former minister of ecology Nicolas Hulot, leaves the LREM's parliamentary group to protest against the government's ecological policy.
• 7 February - Following the growing diplomatic tensions between the French government and the Italian government, the French ambassador to Italy, Christian Masset is recalled to France.
• 8 February - 34th Victoires de la Musique
• 13 February -
• *Alain Juppé, Jacques Mézard and François Pillet are proposed to enter the Constitutional Council to replace Lionel Jospin, Michel Charasse and Jean-Jacques Hyest
• *25th Victoires de la musique classique
• 19 February - Alexandre Benalla is remanded for violating the judicial review he was subjected to.
• 22 February - 44th César Awards
• 24 February - Nearly 2000 hectares ravaged by 49 fire departures in less than 24 hours in Corsica.
• 25 February - The Secretary of State for the Digital Sector, Mounir Mahjoubi, reveals that an attack on the central Internet directory ICANN is underway.

  March">Portal:Current events/March 2019">March

• 2 March - Riots in Grenoble, due to the death of two teenagers riding a scooter who collided with a bus while being pursued by a police patrol.
• 12 March - Cargo ship Grande America sinks after catching fire on 10 March in the Bay of Biscay, approximately west of France, causing a 2,200-tonne oil spill.
• 16 March - Yellow vests movement: Protests against President Emmanuel Macron enter a fourth month in Paris. Tear gas is fired at protesters throwing stones at riot police in front of the Arc de Triomphe, news stands are torched at the Champs-Élysées, and a branch of Banque Tarneaud is burned. More than 80 arrests are made. Businesses around the Champs-Élysées are looted.
• 27 March - Nathalie Loiseau, Benjamin Griveaux and Mounir Mahjoubi leave the government.
• 31 March - Amélie de Montchalin, Sibeth Ndiaye and Cédric O enter the government to replace the previous three.

  April">Portal:Current events/April 2019">April

• 15 April - A major fire engulfs Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, resulting in the roof and main spire collapsing.

  May">Portal:Current events/May 2019">May

• 14 May -
• *National tribute to Cédric de Pierrepont and Alain Bertoncello, soldiers killed during the fight of Gorom-Gorom.
• *Beginning of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
• 24 May - The explosion of a parcel bombed in Lyon injures 14 people.
• 26 May - 2019 European Parliament election

  June">Portal:Current events/June 2019">June

• 5 June - Valérie Pécresse, president of the Regional Council of Île-de-France and Robin Reda member of the French National Assembly for Essonne's 7th constituency quit The Republicans.
• 6 June - Commemorations mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
• 7 June -
• * A SNSM boat capsizes in front of Les Sables d'Olonne during a rescue mission of a fisherman caught in the Storm Miguel. 3 rescuers and the fisherman drown.
• * Aina Kuric, member of the French National Assembly for Marne's 2nd constituency, quits the LREM, having been a prominent critic of the asylum-immigration bill proposed by the government in July 2018, but stays within the LREM's parliamentary group.
• * Beginning of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
• 9 June - A driver refuses to obey a check and hits 2 children in Lorient after a chase, one of whom dies of his injuries.
• 12 June - Sandrine Josso, member of the French National Assembly for Loire-Atlantique's 7th constituency, quits LREM and the LREM parliamentary group to join the Liberties and Territories group.
• 22 June - Steve Maia Caniço's case begins after the latter's disappearance following a police charge against a group of party-goers.
• 24 June - France is affected by the early European heat wave, absolute temperature records are beaten. Bouches-du-Rhône, Gard, Hérault and Vaucluse have been put under red alert due to potentially very dangerous temperatures. On 25 June Paris reaches its hottest July day on record, with a temperature of 42.6 °C.
• 24 June - Agnès Thill, member of the French National Assembly for Oise's 2nd constituency, is excluded from LREM and the LREM's parliamentary group following homophobic remarks.
• 27 June - The 2019 National Diploma session, originally scheduled for June 27 and 28, is postponed to July 1 and 2 due to the extreme heat.

  July">Portal:Current events/July 2019">July

• 6 July - Death of Patricia Gallerneau, member of the French National Assembly for Vendée's 2nd constituency. She is replaced by her substitute.
• 6 to 28 July - 2019 Tour de France.
• 11 July - After a decade, the end of Vincent Lambert case following the death of the latter, who had been brain dead for 10 years.
• 16 July - Resignation of the Minister of Ecological and Solidarity Transition François de Rugy following Mediapart's revelations of his use of public funds. Élisabeth Borne succeeds him.

  August">Portal:Current events/August 2019">August

• 2 August - Crash of a Tracker 22, water bomber plane, near Générac. Franck Chesneaux, a former fighter pilot and a Tracker 22's pilot, died in an operation fighting major fires around Générac. During his national tribute, he is awarded the Legion of Honour and the Medal for internal security, posthumously.
• 4 August - Franky Zapata becomes the first person to fly over English Channel on his own invention, the Flyboard Air.
• 6 August - Jean-Mathieu Michel, Mayor of Signes, is overturned by a van that illegally deposited rubble on the side of the road. The mayor will die soon after.
• 28 August -
• *A chemical accident injures 14 people, two of them seriously, in a company located in Avon and Samois-sur-Seine.
• *Emmanuel Macron nominates Sylvie Goulard as candidate for France as European Commissioner.

  September">Portal:Current events/September 2019">September

• 3 September - Jean-Paul Delevoye and Jean-Baptiste Djebbari enter the government.
• 8 September - A fire ravages 300 hectares and a house in Loupian.
• 9 September - Albane Gaillot, member of the French National Assembly for Val-de-Marne's 11th constituency, quits the LREM, deploring the vote on "laws restricting individual freedoms".
• 13 September - The mayor of Levallois-Perret Patrick Balkany is sentenced to 4 years in prison with immediate incarceration and 10 years of ineligibility for tax evasion, after a highly publicized three-month trial.
• 26 September - Rouen Lubrizol factory fire : Fire in a chemical factory of the company Lubrizol classified Seveso II high threshold. A thick plume of black smoke forms, reaching more than 20 km. As part of the management of the accident, various measures are taken for the protection of the population.
• 29 September - popular tribute to Jacques Chirac, who died on September 26 ; then national mourning and funeral on September 30.

  October">Portal:Current events/October 2019">October

• 3 October - Paris police headquarters stabbing
• 28 October - Bayonne mosque shooting

  November">Portal:Current events/November 2019">November

• 11 November - the War Memorial for France in External Operations is inaugurated in Paris.
• 25 November - 2019 Ménaka helicopter crash : a collision between two helicopters results in the death of 13 French soldiers in Mali.
• 29 November - Pascale Fontenel-Personne, member of the French National Assembly for Sarthe's 3rd constituency, quits LREM, following his disagreement with the functioning of the party.

  December">Portal:Current events/December 2019">December

• 5 December - Start of a social movement to protest against a reform of the pension system.
• 14 December - Miss France 2020.
• 16 December - Resignation of Jean-Paul Delevoye, High Commissioner for Pensions.
• 18 December - Laurent Pietraszewski is appointed Secretary of State for Pensions.
• 31 December -final shutdown of the Longwave transmitter Europe 1.

  Deaths

January

• January 3
• * Roger Bastié, French rugby coach and player
• * Anne-Marie Minvielle, French journalist
• * Christine de Rivoyre, French journalist and writer
• January 7
• * Guy Charmot, French military doctor and member of the French resistance during World War II
• * Aline Kiner, French journalist and novelist
• * Bernard Tchoullouyan, French judoka
• January 8 – Pierre Barillet, French playwright
• January 10
• * Patrick Malrieu, French activist of Breton traditional culture
• * René Mouille, French aeronautical and space engineer
• January 11 – Michel Dejouhannet, French professional road bicycle racer
• January 13
• * Pierre Alard, French athlete
• * Guy Sénac, French footballer
• January 15 – José Souto, French professional footballer and manager
• January 16 – Denis Sire, French comics artist and illustrator
• January 20 – François Perrot, French actor
• January 21
• * Marcel Azzola, French accordionist
• * Henri, Count of Paris, Head of the House of Orléans
• January 26
• * Jean Guillou, French composer, organist, and pianist
• * Michel Legrand, French composer
• January 27 – Henry Chapier, French journalist
• January 29 – Jean-Pierre Boccardo, French sprinter
• January 31
• * Pierre Nanterme, French business executive
• * Georges Sarre, French politician

  February

• February 4
• * Sandrine Doucet, French politician
• * Véronique Schiltz, French archaeologist and historian of art
• February 9 – Tomi Ungerer, French illustrator
• February 14 – Michel Bernard, French middle- and long-distance runner
• February 16 – Serge Merlin, French actor
• February 18 – Jean Périsson, French conductor
• February 19 – Marie-Claire Bancquart, French poet
• February 21 – Jean-Christophe Benoît, French baritone
• February 25 – Roland Leroy, French journalist and politician
• February 27
• * Pierrette Fleutiaux, French writer
• * Michel Sainte-Marie, French politician

  March

• March 5 – Jacques Loussier, French pianist and composer
• March 7 – Guillaume Faye, French journalist and writer
• March 8 – Raoul Barrière, French rugby union player and coach
• March 9
• * Patrick Grandperret, French film director
• * Robert Lemaître, French professional footballer
• * Pierre de Saintignon, French politician
• * Jean-Pierre Richard, French writer and literary critic
• March 16 – Yann-Fañch Kemener, French Breton's traditional singer
• March 17 – René Fontès, French rugby executive and politician
• March 18 – Marcel-Pierre Cléach, French politician
• March 23 – Jacques Dessemme, French basketball player
• March 26
• * Michel Bacos, French pilot
• March 27 – Pierre Bourguignon, French politician
• March 28 – Pierre Lacroix, French rugby union player
• March 29 – Agnès Varda, French film director
• March 30 – Maurice Hardouin, French professional footballer

  April

• April 1 – Caravelli, French conductor and composer
• April 3
• * Jacqueline Lichtenstein, French philosopher and art historian
• * Gabriel Piroird, French Roman Catholic prelate
• * Maurice Pon, French lyricist
• April 8
• * Gaston Rousseau, French racing cyclist
• * Turgeon, French racehorse
• April 16 – Francis Croissant, French archaeologist and art historian
• April 20 – Enrico Alberto, French-Italian footballer
• April 23 – Charles Gheerbrant, French politician
• April 24
• * Françoise Barrière, French composer
• * Jean-Pierre Marielle, French actor
• * Dick Rivers, French rock and roll singer
• April 28 – Daniel Horlaville, French footballer
• April 29 – Albert-Marie de Monléon, French Roman Catholic prelate
• April 30 – Anémone, French actress, filmmaker and political activist

  May

• May 2 – Michel Crauste, French rugby player
• May 4 – Claude Cadart, French sinologist
• May 7 – Jean Vanier, Canadian Catholic philosopher, theologian and humanitarian
• May 10 – Geneviève Raugel, French mathematician
• May 11 – Jean-Claude Brisseau, French film director
• May 14 – Étienne Perruchon, French composer
• May 16
• * André Lurton, French winemaker
• * Mick Micheyl, French actress, singer and sculptor
• May 22 – François-René Tranchefort, French musicologist
• May 24 – Bertrand P. Collomb, French business executive
• May 26 – Rémi Gazel, French video game composer
• May 28 – Jean Juventin, French politician

  June

• June 1 – Michel Serres, French philosopher, theorist and writer
• June 2 – Yannick Bellon, French film director, editor and screenwriter
• June 9 – Yves Bot, French magistrate
• June 10 – Michel Sitjar, French rugby player
• June 14
• * Maurice Bénichou, French actor
• * Roger Béteille, French aeronautical engineer and businessman
• June 15 – Daniel Colin, French politician
• June 17
• * Jean-Marie Hullot, French computer scientist and programmer
• * Pierre Pardoën, Frech racing cyclist
• June 18 – François Doubin, French politician
• June 19 – Philippe Zdar, French electronic musician and record producer
• June 25 – Bruno de Keyzer, French cinematographer
• June 26 – Édith Scob, French actress

  July

• July 1 – Pierre Lenhardt, French theologian
• July 2 – Élie Brousse, French rugby league player
• July 3 – Raymond Tarcy, French politician
• July 4 – Pierre Lhomme, French cinematographer
• July 7 – Patricia Gallerneau, French politician
• July 12 – Jean-Pierre Worms, French sociologist and politician
• July 18 – Charles Ceccaldi-Raynaud, French lawyer and politician
• July 21 – Éric Névé, French film producer
• July 25 – Pierre Péan, French journalist and author
• July 31
• * Marcel Berlins, French legal journalist
• * Armand Jung, French politician
• * Jean-Luc Thérier, French rally driver

  August

• August 2 – Schoschana Rabinovici, French-born Lithuanian Holocaust survivor and writer
• August 3
• * Henri Belolo, French music producer and songwriter
• * Jean-Claude Bouttier, French boxer and actor
• August 7 – Michel Che, French chemist
• August 8 – Jean-Pierre Mocky, French film director, screenwriter, and producer
• August 13 – Josette Arène, French Olympic swimmer
• August 19 – Philippe Leroy, French politician
• August 26
• * Pal Benko, French-born Hungarian chess grandmaster
• * Christian Bonaud, French Islamologist and philosopher
• August 27 – Philippe Madrelle, American politician
• August 28
• * Michel Aumont, French actor
• * Pascal Gnazzo, French racing cyclist
• August 29 – Jean Guillou, French Olympic gymnast
• August 31 – Anthoine Hubert, French professional racing driver

  September

• September 3 – Peter Lindbergh, German fashion photographer and film director
• September 4
• * Patrick Dehornoy, French mathematician
• * Roger Etchegaray, French cardinal
• September 7 – Roger Boutry, French composer and conductor
• September 8 – Henri de Contenson, French archaeologist
• September 14 – Sam Szafran, French artist
• September 15 – André Jourdain, French politician
• September 19 – Charles Gérard, French actor and director
• September 26 – Jacques Chirac, 84th Prime Minister and 22nd President of France

  October

• October 3 – Roger Taillibert, French architect
• October 6 – Joseph Gourmelon, French politician
• October 8 – Georgette Elgey, French journalist and historian
• October 9
• * Lorand Gaspar, Hungarian–born French poet
• * Robert Guestier Goelet, French-born American businessman and philanthropist
• * Louis-Christophe Zaleski-Zamenhof, Polish-French civil engineer and esperantist
• October 10 – Marie-José Nat, French actress
• October 26 – Pascale Roberts, French actress
• October 28 – Annick Alane, French actress

  November

• November 2 – Marie Laforêt, French-Swiss singer and actress
• November 3 – Yvette Lundy, member of the French Resistance during World War II
• November 4 – Jacques Dupont, French racing cyclist, Olympic champion
• November 5
• *Dominique Farran, French radio host and journalist.
• *André Zimmermann, French racing cyclist, Tour de l'Avenir winner
• November 8 – Lucette Destouches, ballet dancer and instructor
• November 13 – Raymond Poulidor, French bicycle racer
• November 21 – Jean Douchet, French film director, historian, and film critic

  December

• December 3 – André Daguin, 84, French chef, cancer.
• December 5 – Gérard Detourbet, 73, French automotive executive and engineer, cancer.
• December 7
• * Denis Lalanne, French sports journalist
• * Bertrand Landrieu, French politician and prefect
• December 11
• * Nicole de Buron, 90, French writer.
• * Guy Laporte, 71, French actor, Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease.
• December 13 – Jean-Claude Carle, French politician
• December 14
• * Anna Karina, Danish-French film actress, director, writer, and singer
• * Bernard Lavalette, French actor
• December 15
• *Bertrand Lemennicier, French economist
• *Jean de Viguerie, French historian
• December 16 – Bernard Lefèvre, French footballer
• December 17 – Jacques Grimbert, French conductor and choral conductor
• December 18
• *Claudine Auger, French actress
• *Alain Barrière, French singer
• *Jacques Bravo, French politician
• *Ibrahim Diarra, French rugby union player
• December 21
• *François Autain, French politician
• *Emanuel Ungaro, French fashion designer
• December 27
• * Bernard Lavigne, French rugby union player
• *Fabien Thiémé, French politician
• December 30 - Pierre Galet, French ampelographer