Prefect (France)

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A prefect (French: préfet, plural préfets) in France is the state's representative in a department or region. Subprefects (French: sous-préfets) are responsible for the subdivisions of departments, known as arrondissements. The office of a prefect is known as a prefecture and that of a subprefect as a subprefecture. Regional prefects are ex officio the departmental prefects of the regional prefecture.

Prefects are tasked with upholding the law in the department they serve in, including controlling the actions of local authorities to ensure adhesion to national guidelines. They are authorised to sue local collectivities in the name of the state.^[1]

Prefects are appointed by a decree of the President of France when presiding over the government's Council of Ministers, following a proposal by the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior.^[2] They serve at the government's discretion and can be replaced at any meeting of the Council of Ministers.

From 1982 to 1988, under the Socialist administration of President François Mitterrand, prefects were called commissaires de la République (the Republic's commissioners) and subprefects commissaires adjoints de la République (the Republic's deputy commissioners).^[3]