Grand-officier Commandeur The Ordre national du Mérite (French: [ɔʁdʁ nɑsjɔnal dy meʁit]; English: National Order of Merit) is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle.[4] The Ordre national du Mérite replaced the following ministerial and colonial orders:[3] French citizens as well as foreign nationals, men and women, can be received into the order for distinguished military or civil achievements, though of a lesser level than that required for the award of the Legion of Honour.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.Every Prime Minister of France is made a Grand Cross of the order after 6 months of service.[5] Jacques Chirac, who would later serve as president, was the first prime minister to receive the Grand Cross of the order ex officio.