The National Order of Merit (or Ordre national du Mérite in French) is an order of merit with membership established to replace the large number of ministerial orders previously awarded by the ministries and to create an award that can be given at a lower level than the Legion of Honour, which is generally reserved for French citizens.
The National Order of Merit was awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. It comprises about 187,000 members worldwide. The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the order and appoints all its members by convention on the advice of the Government of France.
The order has a common Chancellor and Chancery with the Legion of Honour. Every Prime Minister of France is made a Grand cross of the order after 24 months of service.
The National Order of Merit Design
The medal of the order is a six-armed Maltese asterisk in gilt enamelled blue, with laurel leaves between the arms.
The obverse central disc of the National Order of Merit medal features the head of Marianne, surrounded by the legend République française (French Republic). The reverse central disc has a set of crossed tricolores, surrounded by the name of the order and its foundation date. The badge is suspended by a laurel wreath.
The Order has five classes:
- Three ranks:
- Knight (Chevalier): to be of a minimum age of 35, minimum of 10 years of public service and “distinguished merits”;
- Officer (Officier): minimum of 5 years in the rank of Knight;
- Commander (Commandeur): minimum of 5 years in the rank of Officer;
- Two dignities:
- Grand Officer (Grand Officier): minimum 3 years in the rank of Commander; and
- Grand Cross (Grand-Croix): minimum 3 years in the rank of Grand Officer.
