Emmanuel Macron

What was the early life of Emmanuel Macron like?

Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron was born on December 21, 1977, in Amiens to Françoise Macron (née Noguès), a physician, and Jean-Michel Macron, professor of neurology at the University of Picardy. His parents divorced in 2010. He has two siblings, Laurent (born 1979) and Estelle (born 1982). Françoise and Jean-Michel's first child was stillborn. The Macron family legacy is traced back to the village of Authie, Picardy. One paternal great-grandfather, George William Robertson, was English and born in Bristol, United Kingdom. Maternal grandparents, Jean and Germaine Noguès (née Arribet), are from Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Gascony. Macron associates his enjoyment of reading and leftward political leanings to Germaine, a teacher and principal who came from a modest upbringing. Although raised in a non-religious family, Macron was baptized a Catholic at age 12; he is agnostic today. His parents chose his name in reference to the biblical prophecy of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Macron was educated mainly at Lycée la Providence in Amiens before finishing his last year of school at elite Lycée Henri-IV in Paris, where he completed high school and undergraduate programs with a "Bac S, Mention Très bien". He was nominated for the "Concours général" (most selective national level high school competition) in French literature and received his diploma for piano studies at Amiens Conservatory. Macron's parents sent him to Paris due to their alarm at his bond with Brigitte Auzière, a married teacher who later became his wife. In Paris, Macron twice failed to gain entry to the École normale supérieure. He instead studied philosophy at University of Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense, obtaining a DEA degree with a thesis on Machiavelli and Hegel. Macron worked as an editorial assistant to Paul Ricoeur, French Protestant philosopher, around 1999. He became a member of the editorial board of literary magazine Esprit. Macron did not perform national service because he was pursuing his graduate studies. Born in December 1977, he belonged to the last cohort for whom military service was mandatory. Macron obtained a master's degree in public affairs at Sciences Po, majoring in "Public Guidance and Economy" before training for a senior civil service career at the selective École nationale d'administration (ENA), training at the French Embassy in Nigeria and at the prefecture of Oise before graduating in 2004.

What kind of professional trajectory has Emmanuel Macron built throughout his career?

What role has Emmanuel Macron played in France's financial landscape as Inspector of Finances?

After graduating from ENA in 2004, Macron became an Inspector in the Inspection générale des finances (IGF), a branch of the Finance Ministry. He was mentored by Jean-Pierre Jouyet, then-head of the IGF. During his time as an Inspector of Finances, Macron gave lectures at IPESUP's "prep'ENA" summer program, which prepares students for the ENA entrance examination. In 2006, Laurence Parisot offered him the managing director role at Mouvement des Entreprises de France, but he declined. In August 2007, Macron was appointed deputy rapporteur for Jacques Attali's "Commission to Unleash French Growth". In 2008, Macron paid €50,000 to buy out his government contract and became an investment banker at Rothschild & Cie Banque. In March 2010, he was appointed a member of the Attali Commission.

Can the former investment banker turn France's economy around?

In September 2008, Macron left his job as an Inspector of Finances to take a position at Rothschild & Cie Banque. His first responsibility was assisting with the acquisition of Cofidis by Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe. Macron formed a relationship with Alain Minc, a businessman on the supervisory board of Le Monde. In 2010, Macron was promoted to partner with the bank after working on the recapitalization of Le Monde and the acquisition by Atos of Siemens IT Solutions and Services. He was also put in charge of Nestlé's acquisition of Pfizer's infant nutrition division for €9 billion. In February 2012, Macron advised businessman Philippe Tillous-Borde, the CEO of the Avril Group. Between December 2010 and May 2012, Macron earned €2 million. Official documents show that between 2009 and 2013, Macron had earned almost €3 million. He left Rothschild & Cie in 2012.

What was the early spark that ignited Emmanuel Macron's political ambition?

Macron worked for the Citizens' Movement from 1998 until 2000, but never applied for membership. During this time, he was an assistant to Mayor Georges Sarre in the 11th arrondissement of Paris while studying at Sciences Po. At age 24, Macron joined the Socialist Party and maintained his membership through 2009. In 2006, he met François Hollande through Jean-Pierre Jouyet, leading to a subsequent stint on Hollande's staff from 2010 onward. In 2007, Macron attempted to run for a National Assembly seat in Picardy under the Socialist Party label, but his application was rejected. Two years later, he was offered the position of deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister François Fillon, which he declined.

Was he a deputy secretary-general of the Élysée from 2012 to 2014?

On May 15, 2012, Macron became the deputy secretary-general of the Élysée under President François Hollande's staff. He served with Nicolas Revel and reported to Secretary-General Pierre-René Lemas. During the summer of 2012, Macron proposed increasing the 35-hour work week to 37 hours until 2014 and holding back large tax increases on high earners. However, President Hollande rejected these proposals. In 2013, Macron was one of the deciding votes against regulating CEO salaries. Nicolas Revel, his counterpart, opposed a budget responsibility pact favored by Medef. On June 10, 2014, it was announced that Macron had resigned as deputy secretary-general and was replaced by Laurence Boone. The reasons for his departure included his disappointment at not being included in the first Government of Manuel Valls and frustration with his lack of influence on proposed reforms. Macron left to "continue personal aspirations" and create his own financial consultancy firm. He later planned to establish an investment firm focused on educational projects. He was also hired as a research fellow at the University of Berlin, with the support of businessman Alain Minc. Additionally, he sought a position at Harvard University. When offered the chance to run in the 2014 municipal elections in Amiens, Macron declined. As a result, President Hollande rejected Manuel Valls's proposal to appoint him Budget Minister, citing his lack of elected experience.

Was Emmanuel Macron France's Minister of Economics and Industry from 2014 to 2017?

He was appointed Minister of Economics and Industry on August 26, 2014, replacing Arnaud Montebourg. At just 36 years old, he was the youngest minister since Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in 1962. Macron was dubbed the "Anti-Montebourg" due to his pro-EU stance and liberal views, contrasting with Montebourg's eurosceptic and left-wing beliefs. As Minister of Economics, Macron pushed for business-friendly reforms. In February 2015, Prime Minister Manuel Valls used the special 49.3 procedure to pass Macron's signature law package through a reluctant parliament. Macron increased France's share in Renault from 15% to 20%, then implemented the Florange law granting double voting rights on shares registered for over two years unless two-thirds of shareholders voted to overturn it. This gave the French state a minority stake in Renault, though Macron later stated that the government would limit its powers within the company. Macron faced criticism for being unable to prevent an Ecopla factory's closure in Isère. In August 2015, he announced he was no longer a member of the Socialist Party and was instead an independent.

What Has Been Emmanuel Macron's Role in French Politics Since 2017?

What did Emmanuel Macron's first term from 2017 to 2022 look like?

Macron qualified for the runoff after the first round of the election on 23 April 2017. He won the second round by a landslide according to preliminary results, making Marine Le Pen concede. At 39, he became the youngest president in French history and the youngest French head of state since Napoleon. He is also the first president of France born after the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958. Macron formally became president on 14 May. He appointed Patrick Strzoda as his chief of staff and Ismaël Emelien as his special advisor for strategy, communication, and speeches. On 15 May, he appointed Édouard Philippe of the Republicans as Prime Minister. On the same day, he made his first official foreign visit, meeting in Berlin with Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany. The two leaders emphasized the importance of France-Germany relations to the European Union. They agreed to draw up a "common road map" for Europe, insisting that neither was against changes to the Treaties of the European Union. In the 2017 legislative election, Macron's party La République En Marche and its Democratic Movement allies secured a comfortable majority, winning 350 seats out of 577. After the Republicans emerged as the winners of the Senate elections, government spokesman Christophe Castaner stated the elections were a "failure" for his party. On 3 July 2020, Macron appointed the centre-right Jean Castex as Prime Minister of France. Castex, described as a social conservative, was a member of the Republicans. The appointment was described as "doubling down on a course that is widely seen as centre-right in economic terms".

Will He See Out His Full Second Term in Office?

Though Macron's second inauguration took place on 7 May 2022, his second presidential term officially began on 14 May 2022.

Is Emmanuel Macron also a co-prince of Andorra?

As president of France, Macron serves ex officio as one of the two co-princes of Andorra. His chief of staff Patrick Strzoda serves as his representative in this capacity. Joan Enric Vives i Sicília served as Macron's co-prince until Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat succeeded him in 2025. Macron swore the Constitution of Andorra through Strzoda in an act that took place on 15 June 2017 in Casa de la Vall. He visited the country on a State visit on 12 September 2019, speaking at the historic building of the General Council of Andorra alongside Episcopal Co-Prince Joan Enric Vives, Prime Minister Xavier Espot and the General Syndic Roser Suñé Pascuet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Andorran government asked France for economic aid, but Macron refused, arguing that the Bank of France could not offer loans to another country without the approval of the European Central Bank. In January 2024, former New Caledonian high commissioner Patrice Faure was appointed chief of staff to Macron, and in November, his representative to Andorra.

What is Emmanuel Macron's personal life like?

Macron is married to Brigitte Trogneux, his former high school teacher who is 25 years his senior. They met during a theatre workshop when he was 15 and she was 39. A romantic relationship developed later, but his parents attempted to separate them by sending him away to Paris. The couple reunited after Macron graduated and were married in 2007. Brigitte has three children from a previous marriage, while Macron has no children of his own. Her role in Macron's 2017 presidential campaign was pivotal, helping him develop skills like public speaking. His best man at the wedding was Henry Hermand, a businessman who loaned Macron €550,000 to purchase his first apartment and allowed him to use his offices for his movement En Marche. Macron has played piano for ten years, enjoys the work of Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt, and speaks fluent English. He also skis, plays tennis, and enjoys boxing. In 2017, a photojournalist was arrested for entering Macron's private residence in Marseille, but Macron later dropped the complaint. Macron adopted a dog named Nemo with his wife Brigitte in August 2017. As a schoolboy, he decided to be baptised as a Catholic and identified himself as an agnostic Catholic prior to meeting Pope Francis. He has also agreed to become an honorary canon of St John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome. Macron is a fan of football and supports French club Olympique de Marseille. During the 2018 World Cup, he attended matches with international leaders, including the Belgian King and Queen and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

Will Macron's Ambitious Reforms Pay Off?

Le Trombinoscope (2014, 2016), Charlemagne Prize (2018), Champion of the Earth (2018), Westfälischer Friedenspreis (2024).

What role will Emmanuel Macron play in shaping Europe's future?

Emmanuel Macron, Jonathan Goldberg, and Juliette Scott's Revolution was published in Brunswick, Victoria, Australia by Scribe Publications in 2017. The book has an ISBN of 978-1-925322-71-2 and OCLC number 992124322. Macron, Emmanuel; Fottorino, Éric's Macron par Macron was published in La Tour d'Aigues, France by Editions de l'Aube in 2017. The book has an ISBN of 978-2-8159-2484-9 and OCLC number 1003593124.

Can France's President-Elect Deliver on His Ambitious Reforms?

Emmanuel Macron versus the yellow vests The crisis began in 2019, when Macron's government responded to protests with force and repression. The yellow vest movement, a coalition of activists and workers, demanded economic and social change. Macron faced criticism for his handling of the crisis. Emmanuel Macron, France, and Europe: 'France is back in Europe': on which terms? Macron has prioritized European integration and strengthened Franco-German ties. However, he has also maintained a commitment to French sovereignty and national identity. Presidential Election 2022: A Euroclash Between a "Liberal" and a "Neo-Nationalist" France Is Coming The 2022 presidential election will pit Macron against Marine Le Pen, who represents the far-right Rassemblement National. The campaign is expected to be highly divisive, with Le Pen promising to reject globalization and European integration. Emmanuel Macron and the two years that changed France Macron's presidency has been marked by significant reforms, including labor market changes, pension reform, and a overhaul of the education system. His government has also prioritized climate action and social justice. The election of Emmanuel Macron and the new French party system: a return to the éternel marais? Macron's presidential campaign was notable for its use of digital technology and his ability to tap into discontent among young voters. The election marked a significant shift in France's political landscape, with the traditional left-right divide becoming less relevant. The phantom revolution Macron's victory was seen as a rejection of traditional politics and a sign that the French people were seeking change. However, many experts argue that Macron's presidency has not lived up to expectations. Emmanuel Macron and Franco-Russian relations at the present stage Macron has sought to improve relations with Russia, but tensions persist over issues such as Ukraine and Syria. Macron ou le mystère du verbe: Ses discours décryptés par la machine This book analyzes Macron's speeches using machine learning algorithms. It argues that Macron's rhetoric is characterized by a focus on individualism and meritocracy. France's Gamble: As America Retreats, Macron Steps up Macron has sought to position France as a leading global player, particularly in the wake of Donald Trump's presidency. Revolution Française: Emmanuel Macron and the quest to reinvent a nation This book explores Macron's efforts to modernize France and his vision for the country's future. It argues that Macron's presidency represents a significant departure from traditional French politics. Technocratic populism à la française? The roots and mechanisms of Emmanuel Macron's success Macron's campaign was notable for its use of digital technology and its focus on issues such as education, work, and social justice. This article argues that Macron's success can be attributed to his ability to tap into popular discontent with traditional politics. Macron's World: How the New President Is Remaking France This article explores Macron's efforts to reform French institutions and his vision for the country's future. It argues that Macron's presidency represents a significant departure from traditional French politics.