France's recent political turmoil has delayed the customary New Year's Day announcement of Legion of Honour recipients for 2025, as the country has not had a functioning council of ministers, which is key to the selection process for the award.
According to a statement from the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honour on Monday, the delay is due to the absence of a functioning council of ministers who are required to review the proposed recipients.
National honours for French soldier killed in Mali
For 2025, the list of honourees will be published later in January after being presented to the council of ministers and approved by the Grand Master – French President, Emmanuel Macron.
New council of ministers
Prime Minister François Bayrou's new cabinet – which was only set up on 23 December following the collapse of Michel Barnier's government – will convene for its inaugural council of ministers meeting on Friday.
The meeting's agenda is expected to be extensive, focusing significantly on addressing the situation in Mayotte following the devastation of cyclone Chido.
Macron mulls stripping Putin of Legion d'Honneur
The Grand Chancellery says the award process entails several stages, when proposals from ministers are reviewed by the Council of the Order of the Legion of Honour, then overseen by the Grand Chancellor and then presented to the council of ministers.
Subsequently, the entire list is submitted to the French President, who has the final say in who will receive the accolade.
Typically, another round of awards is granted each year on 14 July, the French national holiday.
(with AFP)
