Founded in 1958, the Fifth French Republic was established as the modern-day form of the French government. Under the 1958 constitution, the president leads the Council of Ministers. This council is the main body in the executive branch of government. Currently, the Council of Ministers is composed of 19 government ministers and the prime minister. Other members can also be directly appointed by the president as senior ministers of state. The president selects ministers to become the heads of different government ministries. These ministries carry out the laws and programs passed by the French Parliament. Government ministries cover almost all parts of national policy from justice and foreign affairs to culture and education. The current council was formed on October 10, 2025, by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. It is made up of ministers from both liberal and center-right political parties. In this committee, delegates will need to decide on what direction to take France. Many problems face the country, and delegates will need to work together while keeping in mind their own political interests.

Since 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron’s government has faced many different challenges at the same time. It began as a debate over which political parties would be represented in a new Council of Ministers. France’s parliamentary system and government traditions made it difficult to select a new prime minister that would satisfy all parties. At the same time, a large budget deficit required the government to make large cuts to spending and programs. This led to the first vote of no confidence, which dissolved the council. The economic problems would not stop there as people began to protest the government on a proposal to raise the national retirement age by two years. Large financial institutions also began to raise concerns over the French government’s ability to repay its debts. The budget problems would continue with more councils becoming dissolved over debates on how to manage the country’s finances. The final government budget was passed in February 2026 by the second council under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. However, this has led to public anger towards the government and protests. On top of the domestic political unrest, the war in Ukraine and other foreign policy issues are still key issues. As France enters its next presidential election in 2027, there are still major questions about its future. France’s debt ratio is alarmingly high, with the national debt at 110 percent of the gross domestic product. Global conflicts are becoming more violent across the world. As the Council of Ministers, delegates will need to collaborate closely with each other to keep the Fifth Republic alive.