Michel Fournier steps down from his duties as Minister Delegate for Rural Affairs

A decree dated September 22, 2026, regarding the composition of the Government terminates the duties of Michel Fournier, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Regional Planning and Decentralization, in charge of rural affairs. The text was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0222 on September 23, 2026, under the reference NOR HRUX2624937D. It designates no successor to this position.

A decree in two articles

Signed on September 22, 2026, and published the following day, the decree consists of two articles: the first states the cessation of duties, and the second provides for the publication of the text in the Official Journal, a condition for its enforceability.

• Article 1: termination of the duties of Michel Fournier, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Regional Planning and Decentralization, in charge of rural affairs.
• Article 2: publication of the decree in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
• Official Reference: NOR HRUX2624937D, JORF No. 0222 of September 23, 2026.

The decree mentions neither an effective date distinct from the publication, nor a replacement, nor a new distribution of responsibilities.

A portfolio attached to regional planning

The abolished position was attached to the Ministry of Regional Planning and Decentralization, headed by Françoise Gatel, designated as Minister of Regional Planning and Decentralization in the parliamentary reports published in the Official Journal on September 22 and 23, 2026.

The Minister Delegate had his own cabinet, whose activity was documented in the Official Journal throughout the summer of 2026:

• Order of August 6, 2026, regarding appointments to the cabinet of the Minister Delegate in charge of rural affairs: Paul-Mathieu Caïtucoli appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, effective August 10, 2026.
• Order of August 6, 2026, regarding the delegation of signature within the same cabinet, notably in favor of the Deputy Chief of Staff.
• Order of July 27, 2026: termination of the duties of Valérie Michel-Moreaux, Chief of Staff, effective August 24, 2026.
• Order of August 20, 2026: termination of the duties of Elsa Clément, Head of Cabinet, effective August 24, 2026.

These movements, published on August 23 and September 1, 2026, had already renewed the leadership of the ministerial cabinet prior to the cessation of the Minister Delegate’s duties.

No successor designated

The decree of September 22, 2026, is limited to noting the end of duties: it appoints no one to take over the rural affairs portfolio and does not specify to which entity the corresponding responsibilities are transferred. The Official Journal of September 23, 2026, contains no other decree relating to the composition of the Government.

The cessation of duties takes effect upon the publication of the decree, with no transitional provisions provided. For local authorities, associations, and operators in rural areas, the delegated portfolio in charge of rurality no longer has an identified holder in the Official Journal, with the corresponding files remaining attached to the Ministry of Regional Planning and Decentralization.

Source : Decree of September 22, 2026, relating to the composition of the Government, NOR HRUX2624937D, Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0222 of September 23, 2026.