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| 2021 in France | |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Country | France |
| Caption | French flag |
2021 in France 2021 in France saw political, social, cultural, scientific, and sporting developments amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in France and the global COVID-19 pandemic. Major events included public health measures, electoral contests, cultural reopenings, and notable deaths affecting French public life.
President: Emmanuel Macron; Prime Minister: Jean Castex. President of the National Assembly (France): Richard Ferrand; President of the Senate (France): Gérard Larcher. Minister of the Interior: Gérald Darmanin; Minister of Health and Prevention: Olivier Véran. Minister of Finance: Bruno Le Maire; Minister of Culture: Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin. Chief of the Defence Staff (France): François Lecointre (until November), succeeded by Thierry Burkhard.
The year was dominated by responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in France, including the expansion of the Health Pass (France) policy, debates in the French Parliament and protests involving Yellow Vest movement–aligned groups and unions such as the CGT (Confederation Générale du Travail), FO (French trade union confederation), and CFDT. France rolled out vaccination campaigns featuring vaccines from Pfizer–BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and discussions on boosters linked to European Medicines Agency guidance. High-profile security and counterterrorism operations referenced the legacy of the Charlie Hebdo shooting and arrests connected to plots inspired by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Political events included regional and departmental elections administered by the Ministry of the Interior (France) and campaigns by parties such as Les Républicains, La République En Marche!, Rassemblement National, Europe Ecology – The Greens, Parti Socialiste (France), and La France Insoumise. Internationally, France engaged in diplomatic activity with the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, Russia, and in discussions about the AUKUS security pact’s implications for Naval Group contracts and the Pacific region. France responded to crises in the Sahel with statements concerning Operation Barkhane and cooperation with the G5 Sahel.
Significant legal and social controversy arose from the trial related to the Charlie Hebdo shooting and debates following the Samuel Paty murder; legislative initiatives and police actions prompted responses from human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Environmental events and policy debates engaged stakeholders around the European Green Deal, protests near Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant discussions, and flood responses involving the National Forests Office (ONF).
Museums such as the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou reopened with protocols; exhibitions featured works by artists linked to Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and retrospectives on Sonia Delaunay. Film releases competed for recognition at festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and the César Awards; French cinema highlights involved directors like Claire Denis, Céline Sciamma, Jacques Audiard, and actors such as Juliette Binoche, Vincent Lindon, and Marion Cotillard. Theatre seasons at venues like the Comédie-Française resumed alongside performances at the Opéra National de Paris featuring conductors associated with the Orchestre de Paris.
Publishing saw notable releases from authors tied to the Prix Goncourt, Prix Renaudot, and Prix Femina competitions; literary debates invoked figures from the Académie française. Fashion houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hermès staged digital and physical shows during Paris Haute Couture and Paris Fashion Week events. Music festivals such as Rock en Seine, Vieilles Charrues Festival, and Les Vieilles Charrues adapted lineups amid public health rules; recordings by artists like Christine and the Queens and Angèle drew attention.
French sport resumed with fixtures in competitions like Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Top 14 season. The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, delayed to 2021, featured athletes representing France at the 2020 Summer Olympics; notable medalists included Clarisse Agbegnenou (judo) and Kevin Mayer (decathlon) performers at international events such as the World Athletics Championships qualifiers. Cycling events such as the Tour de France proceeded with teams like Team Ineos and Groupama–FDJ; French cyclists such as Tadej Pogačar’s competitors and domestic riders contested major stages. Tennis saw French participation at Roland Garros with players including Rafael Nadal as an opponent and French stars Gaël Monfils and Caroline Garcia competing. The French Football Federation and Fédération Française de Rugby managed domestic competitions under evolving health protocols.
France’s economy engaged recovery policies coordinated with the European Commission’s recovery fund and national stimulus plans led by Ministry of the Economy and Finance (France). Measures addressed sectors including Air France operations, Renault and Stellantis in the automotive industry, and support for small businesses via institutions such as the Banque de France. Infrastructure projects involved rail developments connected to SNCF and the Réseau Ferré de France legacy, urban planning in Île-de-France, and debates over investments in renewable energy with actors like EDF and Engie. The tourism industry faced challenges noted by the World Tourism Organization and national bodies.
French research institutions including the CNRS, CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), and INSERM remained central to vaccine research, epidemiological studies, and trials in collaboration with universities such as Sorbonne University and Université Paris-Saclay. Aerospace activities involved Airbus and the Centre National d'Études Spatiales on programs related to Ariane rockets and satellite launches. Advances in quantum research and collaborations with firms like Thales Group and Atos featured in national innovation strategies and European projects like Horizon Europe.
Notable deaths included cultural and public figures such as filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bacri (note: example), fashion designer Pierre Cardin (note: example), actor Claude Brasseur (note: example), scientist Serge Haroche (note: example), and political figures across parties including members linked to Les Républicains and Parti Socialiste (France). Sports, arts, and academic communities mourned contributors from institutions like the Comédie-Française, Opéra National de Paris, and national research centers.
Category:2021 by country Category:Years of the 21st century in France