2019 in France
This article lists major events that happened in 2019 in France.
Incumbents
Events
January
- 12 January – 2019 Paris explosion: An explosion occurs at a bakery on Rue de Trevise in Paris' 9th arrondissement, killing four people and injuring forty-seven others.
- 14 January – The Brest University Hospital Center becomes the first hospital in the world to acquire a PET scan.
- 15 January – Launch of the Great National Debate
- 22 January – Signing of the Aachen Treaty in Aachen, 56 years to the day after the signing of the Élysée Treaty
February
- 5 February – February [2019 Paris fire]: A suspected arson at an apartment block on Rue Erlanger in Paris' 16th arrondissement kills ten people, making it the deadliest fire in Paris since 2005.
- 6 February – Matthieu Orphelin, member of the French National Assembly for Maine-et-Loire's 1st constituency, close to the former minister of ecology Nicolas Hulot, leaves the LREM's parliamentary group to protest against the government's ecological policy.
- 7 February – Following the growing diplomatic tensions between the French government and the Italian government, the French ambassador to Italy, Christian Masset is recalled to France.
- 8 February – 34th Victoires de la Musique
- 13 February –
- *Alain Juppé, Jacques Mézard and François Pillet are proposed to enter the Constitutional Council to replace Lionel Jospin, Michel Charasse and Jean-Jacques Hyest
- *25th Victoires de la musique classique
- 19 February – Alexandre Benalla is remanded for violating the judicial review he was subjected to.
- 22 February – 44th César Awards
- 24 February – Nearly 2000 hectares ravaged by 49 fire departures in less than 24 hours in Corsica.
- 25 February – The Secretary of State for the Digital Sector, Mounir Mahjoubi, reveals that an attack on the central Internet directory ICANN is underway.
March
- 2 March – Riots in Grenoble, due to the death of two teenagers riding a scooter who collided with a bus while being pursued by a police patrol.
- 12 March – Cargo ship Grande America sinks after catching fire on 10 March in the Bay of Biscay, approximately west of France, causing a 2,200-tonne oil spill.
- 16 March – Yellow vests movement: Protests against President Emmanuel Macron enter a fourth month in Paris. Tear gas is fired at protesters throwing stones at riot police in front of the Arc de Triomphe, news stands are torched at the Champs-Élysées, and a branch of Banque Tarneaud is burned. More than 80 arrests are made. Businesses around the Champs-Élysées are looted.
- 27 March – Nathalie Loiseau, Benjamin Griveaux and Mounir Mahjoubi leave the government.
- 31 March – Amélie de Montchalin, Sibeth Ndiaye and Cédric O enter the government to replace the previous three.
April
- 15 April – A major fire engulfs Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, resulting in the roof and main spire collapsing.
May
- 14 May –
- *National tribute to Cédric de Pierrepont and Alain Bertoncello, soldiers killed during the fight of Gorom-Gorom.
- *Beginning of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
- 24 May – The explosion of a parcel bombed in Lyon injures 14 people.
- 26 May – 2019 European Parliament election
June
- 5 June – Valérie Pécresse, president of the Regional Council of Île-de-France and Robin Reda member of the French National Assembly for Essonne's 7th constituency quit The Republicans.
- 6 June – Commemorations mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
- 7 June –
- * A SNSM boat capsizes in front of Les Sables d'Olonne during a rescue mission of a fisherman caught in the Storm Miguel. 3 rescuers and the fisherman drown.
- * Aina Kuric, member of the French National Assembly for Marne's 2nd constituency, quits the LREM, having been a prominent critic of the asylum-immigration bill proposed by the government in July 2018, but stays within the LREM's parliamentary group.
- * Beginning of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
- 9 June – A driver refuses to obey a check and hits 2 children in Lorient after a chase, one of whom dies of his injuries.
- 12 June – Sandrine Josso, member of the French National Assembly for Loire-Atlantique's 7th constituency, quits LREM and the LREM parliamentary group to join the Liberties and Territories group.
- 22 June – Steve Maia Caniço's case begins after the latter's disappearance following a police charge against a group of party-goers.
- 24 June – France is affected by the early European heat wave, absolute temperature records are beaten. Bouches-du-Rhône, Gard, Hérault and Vaucluse have been put under red alert due to potentially very dangerous temperatures. On 25 June Paris reaches its hottest July day on record, with a temperature of 42.6 °C.
- 24 June – Agnès Thill, member of the French National Assembly for Oise's 2nd constituency, is excluded from LREM and the LREM's parliamentary group following homophobic remarks.
- 27 June – The 2019 National Diploma session, originally scheduled for 27 and 28 June, is postponed to 1 and 2 July due to the extreme heat.
July
- 6 July – Death of Patricia Gallerneau, member of the French National Assembly for Vendée's 2nd constituency. She is replaced by her substitute.
- 6 to 28 July – 2019 Tour de France.
- 11 July – After a decade, the end of Vincent Lambert case following the death of the latter, who had been brain dead for 10 years.
- 16 July – Resignation of the Minister of Ecological and Solidarity Transition François de Rugy following Mediapart's revelations of his use of public funds. Élisabeth Borne succeeds him.
August
- 2 August – Crash of a Tracker 22, water bomber plane, near Générac. Franck Chesneaux, a former fighter pilot and a Tracker 22's pilot, died in an operation fighting major fires around Générac. During his national tribute, he is awarded the Legion of Honour and the Medal for internal security, posthumously.
- 4 August – Franky Zapata becomes the first person to fly over English Channel on his own invention, the Flyboard Air.
- 6 August – Jean-Mathieu Michel, Mayor of Signes, is overturned by a van that illegally deposited rubble on the side of the road. The mayor will die soon after.
- 28 August –
- *A chemical accident injures 14 people, two of them seriously, in a company located in Avon and Samois-sur-Seine.
- *Emmanuel Macron nominates Sylvie Goulard as candidate for France as European Commissioner.
September
- 3 September – Jean-Paul Delevoye and Jean-Baptiste Djebbari enter the government.
- 8 September – A fire ravages 300 hectares and a house in Loupian.
- 9 September – Albane Gaillot, member of the French National Assembly for Val-de-Marne's 11th constituency, quits the LREM, deploring the vote on "laws restricting individual freedoms".
- 13 September – The mayor of Levallois-Perret Patrick Balkany is sentenced to 4 years in prison with immediate incarceration and 10 years of ineligibility for tax evasion, after a highly publicized three-month trial.
- 26 September – Rouen Lubrizol factory fire : Fire in a chemical factory of the company Lubrizol classified Seveso II high threshold. A thick plume of black smoke forms, reaching more than 20 km. As part of the management of the accident, various measures are taken for the protection of the population.
- 29 September – popular tribute to Jacques Chirac, who died on 26 September ; then national mourning and funeral on 30 September.
October
- 3 October – Paris police headquarters stabbing
- 28 October – Bayonne mosque shooting
November
- 11 November – the War Memorial for France in External Operations is inaugurated in Paris.
- 25 November – 2019 Ménaka mid-air collision: a collision between two helicopters results in the death of 13 French soldiers in Mali.
- 29 November – Pascale Fontenel-Personne, member of the French National Assembly for Sarthe's 3rd constituency, quits LREM, following her disagreement with the functioning of the party.
December
- 5 December – Start of a social movement to protest against a reform of the pension system.
- 14 December – Miss France 2020.
- 16 December – Resignation of Jean-Paul Delevoye, High Commissioner for Pensions.
- 18 December – Laurent Pietraszewski is appointed Secretary of State for Pensions.
- 31 December –final shutdown of the Longwave transmitter Europe 1.
Deaths
January
- 3 January
- * Roger Bastié, French rugby coach and player
- * Anne-Marie Minvielle, French journalist
- * Christine de Rivoyre, French journalist and writer
- 7 January
- * Guy Charmot, French military doctor and member of the French resistance during World War II
- * Aline Kiner, French journalist and novelist
- * Bernard Tchoullouyan, French judoka
- 8 January – Pierre Barillet, French playwright
- 10 January
- * Patrick Malrieu, French activist of Breton traditional culture
- * René Mouille, French aeronautical and space engineer
- 11 January – Michel Dejouhannet, French professional road bicycle racer
- 13 January
- * Pierre Alard, French athlete
- * Guy Sénac, French footballer
- 15 January – José Souto, French professional footballer and manager
- 16 January – Denis Sire, French comics artist and illustrator
- 20 January – François Perrot, French actor
- 21 January
- * Marcel Azzola, French accordionist
- * Henri, Count of Paris, Head of the House of Orléans
- 26 January
- * Jean Guillou, French composer, organist, and pianist
- * Michel Legrand, French composer
- 27 January – Henry Chapier, French journalist
- 29 January – Jean-Pierre Boccardo, French sprinter
- 31 January
- * Pierre Nanterme, French business executive
- * Georges Sarre, French politician
February
- 4 February
- * Sandrine Doucet, French politician
- * Véronique Schiltz, French archaeologist and historian of art
- 9 February – Tomi Ungerer, French illustrator
- 14 February – Michel Bernard, French middle- and long-distance runner
- 16 February – Serge Merlin, French actor
- 18 February – Jean Périsson, French conductor
- 19 February – Marie-Claire Bancquart, French poet
- 21 February – Jean-Christophe Benoît, French baritone
- 25 February – Roland Leroy, French journalist and politician
- 27 February
- * Pierrette Fleutiaux, French writer
- * Michel Sainte-Marie, French politician
March
- 5 March – Jacques Loussier, French pianist and composer
- 6 March – Guillaume Faye, French journalist and writer
- 8 March – Raoul Barrière, French rugby union player and coach
- 9 March
- * Patrick Grandperret, French film director
- * Robert Lemaître, French professional footballer
- * Pierre de Saintignon, French politician
- 15 March
- * Dominique Noguez, French writer
- * Jean-Pierre Richard, French writer and literary critic
- 16 March – Yann-Fañch Kemener, French Breton's traditional singer
- 17 March – René Fontès, French rugby executive and politician
- 18 March – Marcel-Pierre Cléach, French politician
- 23 March – Jacques Dessemme, French basketball player
- 26 March
- * Michel Bacos, French pilot
- 27 March – Pierre Bourguignon, French politician
- 28 March – Pierre Lacroix, French rugby union player
- 29 March – Agnès Varda, French film director
- 30 March – Maurice Hardouin, French professional footballer
April
- 1 April – Caravelli, French conductor and composer
- 3 April
- * Jacqueline Lichtenstein, French philosopher and art historian
- * Gabriel Piroird, French Roman Catholic prelate
- * Maurice Pon, French lyricist
- 8 April
- * Gaston Rousseau, French racing cyclist
- * Turgeon, French racehorse
- 16 April – Francis Croissant, French archaeologist and art historian
- 20 April – Enrico Alberto, French-Italian footballer
- 23 April – Charles Gheerbrant, French politician
- 24 April
- * Françoise Barrière, French composer
- * Jean-Pierre Marielle, French actor
- * Dick Rivers, French rock and roll singer
- 28 April – Daniel Horlaville, French footballer
- 29 April – Albert-Marie de Monléon, French Roman Catholic prelate
- 30 April – Anémone, French actress, filmmaker and political activist
May
- 2 May – Michel Crauste, French rugby player
- 4 May – Claude Cadart, French sinologist
- 7 May – Jean Vanier, Canadian Catholic philosopher, theologian and humanitarian
- 10 May – Geneviève Raugel, French mathematician
- 11 May – Jean-Claude Brisseau, French film director
- 14 May – Étienne Perruchon, French composer
- 16 May
- * André Lurton, French winemaker
- * Mick Micheyl, French actress, singer and sculptor
- 22 May – François-René Tranchefort, French musicologist
- 24 May – Bertrand P. Collomb, French business executive
- 26 May – Rémi Gazel, French video game composer
- 28 May – Jean Juventin, French politician
June
- 1 June – Michel Serres, French philosopher, theorist and writer
- 2 June – Yannick Bellon, French film director, editor and screenwriter
- 9 June – Yves Bot, French magistrate
- 10 June – Michel Sitjar, French rugby player
- 14 June
- * Maurice Bénichou, French actor
- * Roger Béteille, French aeronautical engineer and businessman
- 15 June – Daniel Colin, French politician
- 17 June
- * Jean-Marie Hullot, French computer scientist and programmer
- * Pierre Pardoën, French racing cyclist
- 18 June – François Doubin, French politician
- 19 June – Philippe Zdar, French electronic musician and record producer
- 25 June – Bruno de Keyzer, French cinematographer
- 26 June
- * Gilberte Marin-Moskovitz, French politician
- * Édith Scob, French actress
July
- 1 July – Pierre Lenhardt, French theologian
- 2 July – Élie Brousse, French rugby league player
- 3 July – Raymond Tarcy, French politician
- 4 July – Pierre Lhomme, French cinematographer
- 7 July – Patricia Gallerneau, French politician
- 12 July – Jean-Pierre Worms, French sociologist and politician
- 18 July – Charles Ceccaldi-Raynaud, French lawyer and politician
- 21 July – Éric Névé, French film producer
- 25 July – Pierre Péan, French journalist and author
- 31 July
- * Marcel Berlins, French legal journalist
- * Armand Jung, French politician
- * Jean-Luc Thérier, French rally driver
August
- 2 August – Schoschana Rabinovici, French-born Lithuanian Holocaust survivor and writer
- 3 August
- * Henri Belolo, French music producer and songwriter
- * Jean-Claude Bouttier, French boxer and actor
- 7 August – Michel Che, French chemist
- 8 August – Jean-Pierre Mocky, French film director, screenwriter, and producer
- 13 August – Josette Arène, French Olympic swimmer
- 19 August – Philippe Leroy, French politician
- 26 August
- * Pal Benko, French-born Hungarian chess grandmaster
- * Christian Bonaud, French Islamologist and philosopher
- 27 August – Philippe Madrelle, American politician
- 28 August
- * Michel Aumont, French actor
- * Pascal Gnazzo, French racing cyclist
- 29 August – Jean Guillou, French Olympic gymnast
- 31 August – Anthoine Hubert, French professional racing driver
September
- 3 September – Peter Lindbergh, German fashion photographer and film director
- 4 September
- * Patrick Dehornoy, French mathematician
- * Roger Etchegaray, French cardinal
- 7 September – Roger Boutry, French composer and conductor
- 8 September – Henri de Contenson, French archaeologist
- 14 September – Sam Szafran, French artist
- 15 September – André Jourdain, French politician
- 19 September – Charles Gérard, French actor and director
- 26 September – Jacques Chirac, 84th Prime Minister and 22nd President of France
October
- 3 October – Roger Taillibert, French architect
- 6 October – Joseph Gourmelon, French politician
- 8 October – Georgette Elgey, French journalist and historian
- 9 October
- * Lorand Gaspar, Hungarian–born French poet
- * Robert Guestier Goelet, French-born American businessman and philanthropist
- * Louis-Christophe Zaleski-Zamenhof, Polish-French civil engineer and esperantist
- 10 October – Marie-José Nat, French actress
- 26 October – Pascale Roberts, French actress
- 28 October – Annick Alane, French actress
November
- 2 November – Marie Laforêt, French-Swiss singer and actress
- 3 November – Yvette Lundy, member of the French Resistance during World War II
- 4 November – Jacques Dupont, French racing cyclist, Olympic champion
- 5 November
- *Dominique Farran, French radio host and journalist.
- *André Zimmermann, French racing cyclist, Tour de l'Avenir winner
- 8 November – Lucette Destouches, ballet dancer and instructor
- 13 November – Raymond Poulidor, French bicycle racer
- 21 November – Jean Douchet, French film director, historian, and film critic
December
- 3 December – André Daguin, 84, French chef, cancer.
- 5 December – Gérard Detourbet, 73, French automotive executive and engineer, cancer.
- 7 December
- * Denis Lalanne, French sports journalist
- * Bertrand Landrieu, French politician and prefect
- 11 December
- * Nicole de Buron, 90, French writer.
- * Guy Laporte, 71, French actor, Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease.
- 13 December – Jean-Claude Carle, French politician
- 14 December
- * Anna Karina, Danish-French film actress, director, writer, and singer
- * Bernard Lavalette, French actor
- 15 December
- *Bertrand Lemennicier, French economist
- *Jean de Viguerie, French historian
- 16 December – Bernard Lefèvre, French footballer
- 17 December – Jacques Grimbert, French conductor and choral conductor
- 18 December
- *Claudine Auger, French actress
- *Alain Barrière, French singer
- *Jacques Bravo, French politician
- *Ibrahim Diarra, French rugby union player
- 21 December
- *François Autain, French politician
- *Emanuel Ungaro, French fashion designer
- 27 December
- * Bernard Lavigne, French rugby union player
- *Fabien Thiémé, French politician
- 30 December – Pierre Galet, French ampelographer