Who are the ministers of the Fifth Republic?
Abstract
This article presents a descriptive analysis of French ministers since the beginning of the Fifth Republic. We find that ministers are generally appointed aged about 50 years; that women’s representation has increased, but is still less than 30 per cent in the most recent cabinets, and that women often hold more junior positions; that the proportion of ministers who were members of parliament varies, but rarely falls below 60 per cent; that the average minister serves around 15 months; and that ministerial tenure ends mainly due to collective reasons (80 per cent), that is, the prime minister’s resignation or the end of the legislature, rather than reasons relating to the minister individually.