préfet

In France, the préfet (prefect) is the state’s representative in a department and, for regional matters, a regional level representative as well. Appointed by the President of the Republic on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, the préfet heads the departmental administration and ensures the implementation of national policy at the local level.

The préfet coordinates public services and public order. He acts as the representative of the State in matters of security, administration, and civil affairs. His powers include supervision of police and gendarmerie within the department, oversight of civil registries, naturalization, elections, and the issuance of certain administrative decisions and licenses.

The préfet presides over the department’s prefecture and directs subprefects who administer individual arrondissements. At the regional level, the préfet de région heads the regional prefecture and coordinates state services across multiple departments. In some large cities, a specialized préfet de police may exercise police authority within the city, notably in Paris.

In emergencies, the préfet coordinates disaster response and crisis management, mobilizes resources, and collaborates with local authorities, agencies, and the police. The role is a representative of the central government, operating within a framework distinct from elected local bodies, reflecting France’s tradition of centralized administration.

History: The office originated during the Napoleonic era as part of centralized state control. Today, the role remains a cornerstone of the French civil service, with prefects typically drawn from the corps of prefects and rotating among posts.