En Marche!

En Marche! is a French centrist political party founded by Emmanuel Macron in 2016, with the goal of supporting his 2017 French presidential election campaign. The party's creation was announced on April 6, 2016, at a meeting in Amiens, where Macron outlined his vision for a new kind of politics, inspired by the French Revolution and the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu. The party's name, which translates to "On the Move" or "Onward", reflects its commitment to progress and reform, as embodied by Macron's La République En Marche! movement, which drew inspiration from the European Union, the United Nations, and the G20.

● History of

En Marche! The history of En Marche! is closely tied to the career of its founder, Emmanuel Macron, who served as Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs under Prime Minister Manuel Valls from 2014 to 2016. During this period, Macron implemented a series of economic reforms, including the Macron law, which aimed to stimulate economic growth and reduce unemployment in France, in line with the policies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund. In 2016, Macron resigned from the French government and launched his presidential campaign, which was supported by En Marche! and drew inspiration from the European Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, and the Bank of England. The party's early supporters included Christophe Castaner, Richard Ferrand, and Marielle de Sarnez, who were all involved in the 2017 French legislative election and the 2019 European Parliament election.

● Ideology and Platform

En Marche! is a centrist party that combines elements of liberalism, social democracy, and pro-Europeanism, drawing inspiration from the Treaty of Rome, the Maastricht Treaty, and the Lisbon Treaty. The party's platform is based on the principles of individual freedom, social justice, and environmental protection, as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. En Marche! supports economic reform, including the reduction of bureaucracy and the promotion of entrepreneurship, in line with the policies of the World Trade Organization and the International Labour Organization. The party also advocates for European integration, including the creation of a European defense union and the strengthening of the eurozone, as proposed by Angela Merkel, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Mario Draghi.

● Organization and Structure

En Marche! is led by a national council, which is composed of representatives from each of the party's departments and is inspired by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The party's president is Stanislas Guerini, who was appointed by Emmanuel Macron in 2018 and has worked with NATO, the European Commission, and the European Council. En Marche! has a strong presence in the National Assembly, where it is represented by a group of deputies who are committed to the party's centrist and pro-European agenda, as embodied by the Treaty of Lisbon and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The party also has a network of local committees and youth organizations, which are involved in grassroots activism and community outreach, in partnership with the European Youth Forum and the European Movement International.

● Electoral Performance

En Marche! has achieved significant electoral success since its creation, winning a majority of seats in the National Assembly in the 2017 French legislative election and performing well in the 2019 European Parliament election, where it was allied with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and the Renew Europe group. The party's candidates have also been successful in local elections, including the 2019 French municipal elections, where they were supported by La République En Marche! and the Democratic Movement. En Marche! has also been involved in presidential elections, with Emmanuel Macron winning the 2017 French presidential election and being re-elected in the 2022 French presidential election, with the support of François Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Marine Le Pen.

● International Relations and Affiliations

En Marche! is a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, where it works closely with other centrist and liberal parties, including the Free Democratic Party of Germany, the Democrats 66, and the Civic Platform. The party has also established relationships with other pro-European organizations, including the European Movement International and the European Youth Forum, as well as the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. En Marche! has been involved in international diplomacy, including the G7 and the G20 summits, where it has worked with world leaders such as Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, and Xi Jinping.

● Controversies and Criticisms

En Marche! has faced criticism and controversy since its creation, including accusations of elitism and lack of transparency, as well as criticism of the party's economic policies and its handling of social issues, such as the Yellow vests movement and the COVID-19 pandemic in France. The party has also been criticized for its relationship with the media, including allegations of favoritism and censorship, as well as its treatment of opponents, including the National Front and the La France Insoumise. Despite these challenges, En Marche! remains a major force in French politics, with a strong presence in the National Assembly and a commitment to centrist and pro-European values, as embodied by the Treaty of Rome and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Category:French political parties