Minister of the Interior (France)

The Minister of the Interior in France is one of the most important governmental positions, responsible for the following:

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• The general interior security of the country, with respect to criminal acts or natural catastrophes
• including the major law-enforcement forces (see Police in France)
• the French National Police
• the French Gendarmerie for most operational purposes
• Civil defence and Security Directorate
• the sub-directorate of Sapeurs-Pompiers or Firefighters
• the granting of identity documents (passports, identity cards) and driving licenses through the network of préfectures;
• relations between the central government and local governments;
• logistics and organization of political elections, at the national and prefectoral levels (but the results of the elections are overseen by the Constitutional Council or the administrative courts);
• all départemental préfets and sub-prefects are subordinate to the Minister of the Interior.

While the ministry of the Interior supervises police forces, it does not supervise criminal enquiries; criminal enquiries are conducted under the supervision of the judiciary.

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The current Minister of the Interior is Nicolas Sarkozy, who succeeded to Dominique de Villepin (now Prime Minister) on May 31, 2005.

Related Topics:
Nicolas Sarkozy - Dominique de Villepin - Prime Minister - May 31

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Minister of the Interior (France): See also ►