Michel Fournier, the minister responsible for rural affairs, has announced that he will leave the government. During a government seminar on Thursday, September 17, Fournier said he would resign to focus on his role as president of the Association of Rural Mayors of France (AMRF). His decision to step down, which he had previously shared with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, was part of ongoing discussions since he joined the government in October 2025. The transition is expected to take effect early next week. Fournier, who is 76 years old, has been the independent mayor of Voivres in the Vosges department since 1989. Before becoming a minister, he served as president of the AMRF from 2020 to 2025. He had considered resigning earlier in the year, before the March municipal elections, but decided to stay on in the government. Now, he will return to his previous role, continuing to represent the interests of rural communities across France. Fournier comes from an agricultural background and has had a diverse career before entering politics. He worked as an agricultural worker, a rolling shutter installer, a customs agent, a sales agent, and even a florist. He began his political journey at the age of 33 as an opposition member of the municipal council in Voivres, where he has remained a prominent figure. Politically, Fournier is generally seen as right-wing, though some critics classify him as left-wing. However, Fournier himself describes himself as politically independent. To emphasize his stance, he has placed a plaque on the front of his town hall that reads, "Forever free and non-incorporable," highlighting his commitment to local autonomy and independence from larger political parties.