Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron
Name	Emmanuel Macron
Caption	Macron in 2020
Office	President of France
Term start	14 May 2017
Primeminister	Édouard Philippe, Jean Castex, Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal
Predecessor	François Hollande
Office2	Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs
Term start2	26 August 2014
Term end2	30 August 2016
Primeminister2	Manuel Valls
Predecessor2	Arnaud Montebourg
Successor2	Michel Sapin
Birth date	21 December 1977
Birth place	Amiens, France
Party	Renaissance (2016–present)
Otherparty	Socialist Party (2006–2009)
Spouse	Brigitte Trogneux, 2007
Alma mater	Paris Nanterre University, Sciences Po, École nationale d'administration

Emmanuel Macron is a French politician serving as the President of France since 2017. He founded the centrist political movement La République En Marche!, later renamed Renaissance, and previously served as Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs under President François Hollande. His presidency has been defined by pro-European Union policies, economic reforms, and navigating significant domestic and international challenges.

Early life and education

Emmanuel Macron was born in Amiens to a family of physicians, with his father, Jean-Michel Macron, teaching at the University of Picardy. He was educated at the Lycée la Providence before moving to Paris to complete his secondary education at the prestigious Lycée Henri-IV. He studied philosophy at Paris Nanterre University under the mentorship of philosopher Paul Ricœur before attending the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). He graduated from the École nationale d'administration (ENA) in 2004, a traditional training ground for the French elite, as part of the promotion "Léopold Sédar Senghor".

Early career and entry into politics

After ENA, Macron became a senior civil servant at the Inspection générale des finances. In 2008, he left public service to become an investment banker at Rothschild & Cie Banque, where he worked on major deals, including Nestlé's acquisition of Pfizer's infant nutrition division. His political career began in earnest when he was appointed a deputy secretary-general by President François Hollande in 2012. He was named Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs in the government of Manuel Valls in 2014, where he championed the pro-business "Loi Macron". In April 2016, he founded his own political movement, La République En Marche!, and resigned from the government to launch his presidential campaign.

Presidency

Macron won the 2017 French presidential election, defeating Marine Le Pen of the National Rally in the runoff. At 39, he became the youngest president in the history of the French Fifth Republic. His party secured a majority in the subsequent 2017 French legislative election. He was re-elected in the 2022 French presidential election, again defeating Le Pen. His terms have been marked by the Yellow vests movement, the COVID-19 pandemic in France, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Key legislative achievements during his first term included the passage of major reforms to the French labour law and the French railways.

Domestic policies

Macron's domestic agenda, often termed "Macronism", has focused on liberalizing the economy and modernizing the French state. His government enacted the "Loi travail" to loosen French labour law, overhauled the SNCF via the "Loi pour un nouveau pacte ferroviaire", and introduced significant changes to the unemployment insurance system. He faced massive protests from the Yellow vests movement, leading to concessions like the scrapping of a planned fuel tax increase. His second term began with a focus on pension reform, passing a controversial law to raise the retirement age, which sparked widespread strikes and demonstrations organized by trade unions like the CFDT and CGT.

Foreign policy

A staunch proponent of European integration, Macron has advocated for greater European Union sovereignty in defense and technology, often calling for "European strategic autonomy". He has maintained a close, though sometimes strained, relationship with leaders like Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, and Joe Biden. He has taken a firm stance against Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, positioning France as a key military and diplomatic supporter of Ukraine. He has also sought to re-engage with African nations, addressing France's colonial past, and has been active in diplomacy concerning the Israel–Hamas war, the Iran nuclear deal, and climate change through forums like the G7 and United Nations Climate Change conference.

Personal life and public image

Macron is married to his former teacher, Brigitte Macron, and their relationship has been a frequent subject of media attention. He is known for his polished, intellectual style and mastery of political communication, though critics often label him as "president of the rich" (président des riches). An avid practitioner of judo and a fan of the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Paul Valéry, he has also published a political treatise, Révolution. His public image has weathered significant protests and fluctuating approval ratings, yet he has maintained a central role in shaping contemporary French and European politics.

Category:Presidents of France Category:French politicians Category:École nationale d'administration alumni