Emmanuel Macron is a French politician who has been serving as the President of France since 2017. Prior to this, he served as the Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs from 2014 to 2016. Macron’s election as President marked the end of the traditional left-right divide in French politics. He has been a proponent of liberal economics and has described himself as a centrist.
Early Life and Education
Emmanuel Macron was born on December 21, 1977, in Amiens, France. His father, Jean-Michel Macron, was a neurologist, and his mother, Françoise Macron-Noguès, was a physician. Macron attended the Jesuit high school Lycée La Providence in Amiens before studying philosophy and literature at the University of Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense. He then attended the École nationale d’administration (ENA), where he graduated in 2004.
Career in Finance and Politics
After graduating from ENA, Emmanuel Macron worked for the Inspectorate General of Finances as a senior civil servant. In 2007, he left the public service to join Rothschild & Cie Banque, where he worked as an investment banker until 2012. During his time at Rothschild, Macron advised on some high-profile deals, including Nestlé’s $12 billion acquisition of Pfizer’s infant-nutrition business.
In 2012, Emmanuel Macron returned to the public service when he was appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Élysée Palace, serving under President François Hollande. In 2014, he was appointed as the Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs in the second Valls government. During his tenure as Minister, Macron implemented a series of economic reforms aimed at modernizing the French economy.
Presidential Campaign and Presidency
In 2016, Emmanuel Macron resigned from his position as Minister and formed his own political party, En Marche!. His decision to run for President was met with skepticism at first, but he soon gained momentum as a political outsider. Macron ran on a platform of economic liberalism, social progressivism, and European integration.
In the first round of the presidential election, held on April 23, 2017, Macron received 24% of the vote, coming in first place. He then won the second round of the election on May 7, defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen with 66% of the vote. Macron’s victory was seen as a major shift in French politics, as he was the youngest President in French history and the first to come from outside the traditional left-right divide.
As President, Emmanuel Macron has continued to pursue a pro-business agenda, implementing reforms aimed at boosting France’s competitiveness. He has also sought to reform the European Union, advocating for greater integration and stronger institutions. Macron has taken a particularly strong stance on climate change, pledging to make France carbon-neutral by 2050.
Controversies
Emmanuel Macron has faced criticism from his opponents for his perceived elitism and for his economic policies, which some have accused of favoring the wealthy at the expense of the poor. He has also been the subject of protests, particularly from the “Yellow Vest” movement, which has been protesting against his economic policies and his perceived unresponsiveness to the concerns of ordinary citizens.
In addition, Macron has faced criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for the slow rollout of vaccinations in the early months of the crisis. However, he has also been recognized internationally for his leadership during the pandemic, particularly for his efforts to coordinate a European response and for his calls for global solidarity.
Conclusion
Emmanuel Macron is a highly controversial figure in French politics, with his pro-business agenda and European integrationist stance drawing both praise and criticism. The youngest President in French history, Macron has sought to transcend the traditional left-right divide in politics and implement sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing the French economy. His presidency has been marked by protests and criticism, but he remains a formidable political force both in France and on the global stage.
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