Emmanuel Macron

Lore & Background

Emmanuel Macron was born in Amiens to a physician mother and a neurology professor father. He studied philosophy at Paris Nanterre University, earned a master's in public affairs at Sciences Po, and graduated from the École nationale d'administration in 2004. He worked as a senior civil servant at the General Inspectorate of Finance and as an investment banker at Rothschild & Co. Macron was a member of the Socialist Party from 2006 to 2009. He served as Deputy Secretary-General to President François Hollande from 2012 to 2014 and as Minister of Economics and Finance from 2014 to 2016, resigning to launch his 2017 presidential campaign under the En Marche banner.

Macron was elected president in May 2017 with 66% of the second-round vote, defeating Marine Le Pen. His party secured a majority in the 2017 legislative election. His presidency saw reforms to labour laws, taxation, and pensions; a renewable energy transition; and protests including the yellow vests movement and pension reform strikes. He led France's COVID-19 response and vaccination rollout. In foreign policy, he called for EU reforms, signed treaties with Germany and Italy, conducted €40 billion in trade agreements with China, and oversaw a dispute with Australia and the US over the AUKUS pact. He continued Opération Chammal against the Islamic State and condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Macron won a second term in 2022, again defeating Le Pen, but his centrist coalition lost its majority in the 2022 legislative election, leading to a hung parliament and France's first minority government since 1993. In 2023, his government raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, sparking strikes and violent protests. In 2024, after a government crisis, he appointed Gabriel Attal as prime minister, then dissolved the National Assembly and called a snap election after defeat in the European Parliament elections, resulting in another hung parliament. He subsequently appointed Michel Barnier, then François Bayrou, then Sébastien Lecornu as prime ministers, with short-lived governments marking a political crisis.

Reader's Guide

Emmanuel Macron's significance lies in his rapid rise from investment banker to the youngest president in French history, breaking the traditional two-party system with his centrist En Marche movement. His presidency has been defined by ambitious domestic reforms—including labour, tax, and pension changes—that sparked widespread protests, notably the yellow vests movement. Internationally, he advocated for European Union reform and maintained a strong stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His second term has been marked by political instability, including a hung parliament and a series of short-lived governments, reflecting deep divisions in French politics. Macron's legacy is contested: supporters credit him with modernizing France's economy and leading during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, while critics label him the 'president of the rich' and point to persistent social unrest. His ability to navigate repeated political crises and maintain centrist governance in a polarized landscape will shape his historical assessment.

Did You Know?

• Macron was baptised a Catholic at his own request at age 12, though he is agnostic today.
• He worked as an editorial assistant to philosopher Paul Ricoeur around 1999.
• Macron became a millionaire after handling Nestlé's acquisition of Pfizer's infant nutrition division for €9 billion.
• He was the first French presidential candidate to win reelection since Jacques Chirac in 2002.

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