Emmanuel Macron is the president of France and one of the co-princes of Andorra, a small country in the Pyrenees mountains.
He is also the leader of Renaissance, a centrist political party he founded in 2016. He is known for his pro-European and globalist vision, ambitious reforms, and unconventional personal life.
Profile
- Full name: Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron
- Date of birth: December 21, 1977
- Age: 47 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Amiens, France
- Nationality: French
- Profession: Politician
- Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
- Parents: Jean-Michel Macron and Françoise Noguès
- Siblings: Laurent Macron and Estelle Macron
- Spouse: Brigitte Trogneux
- Children: None (stepfather of Sébastien Trogneux, Laurence Trogneux, and Tiphaine Trogneux)
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $31.5 million
Early Life and Education
Emmanuel Macron, now 47, was born on December 21, 1977, in Amiens, a city in northern France. His parents were doctors, and he had two younger siblings, Laurent and Estelle.
He attended a prestigious Jesuit school, excelled academically, and showed an interest in literature, philosophy, and politics.
He also met his future wife, Brigitte Trogneux, who was his drama teacher and 24 years older than him.
Their relationship caused a scandal, and Macron moved to Paris to finish his studies.
He graduated from Paris Nanterre University with a degree in philosophy and then enrolled in Sciences Po, a prestigious school of public affairs. He also joined the Socialist Party and worked as an editorial assistant for a philosopher.
He then entered the École Nationale d’Administration, an elite school that trains civil servants and politicians.
He graduated in 2004 and joined the Inspection Générale des Finances, a high-ranking body that audits public finances.
Personal Life
Emmanuel Macron married Brigitte Trogneux in 2007 after she divorced her first husband. They have no children together, but Macron is the stepfather of Trogneux’s three children from her previous marriage: Sébastien, Laurence, and Tiphaine.
He is also the grandfather of seven grandchildren. Macron and Trogneux have a close and supportive relationship, and she often accompanies him on his official trips and events. She also has an influential role in his political career, advising him on his speeches and strategies.
Macron is a Roman Catholic but does not practice his faith regularly. He has said that he respects all religions and believes in separating church and state.
He is also a fan of classical music, literature, and football. He plays the piano and enjoys reading novels by French and foreign authors. He supports Olympique de Marseille, a football club from southern France.
Career
Emmanuel Macron began his career as a civil servant, working as an inspector of finances and then as a deputy rapporteur for the Cour des Comptes, a public audit institution.
In 2008, he left the public sector and joined Rothschild & Cie, a private investment bank, where he became a partner and earned a fortune.
He advised several large corporations and governments on their financial deals, such as the acquisition of Pfizer by Nestlé.
In 2012, he returned to politics, becoming a presidential adviser to François Hollande, the Socialist president of France. He was in charge of economic and social affairs and advocated for pro-business and pro-European policies.
He also helped Hollande negotiate the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance, a fiscal pact among the eurozone countries.
In 2014, he was appointed Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, replacing Arnaud Montebourg, who resigned over his opposition to the government’s economic reforms.
As a minister, Macron launched several initiatives to liberalize the French economy, such as the Macron Law, which aimed to boost growth, competitiveness, and innovation by easing labour regulations, opening up transport and energy markets, and encouraging entrepreneurship.
He also supported the controversial labour reform in 2016, which sparked massive protests and strikes.
He also promoted France’s digital sector, hosting events such as the Viva Technology Summit and the French Tech Night.
He also advocated for a stronger European integration, proposing a common budget, a parliament, and a minister for the eurozone.
In 2016, Macron resigned from his ministerial post and announced the creation of his political movement, En Marche! (later renamed Renaissance), which he described as neither left nor right but progressive and pragmatic.
He also declared his candidacy for the 2017 presidential election, presenting himself as an outsider and a reformer.
He ran on a platform of economic modernization, social justice, environmental protection, and European cooperation.
He faced fierce opposition from the traditional parties, the far-right National Front, and the radical left France Unbowed. He also faced personal attacks, such as rumours about his sexuality, his marriage, and his finances.
He won the first round of the election with 24% of the votes, followed by Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Front, with 21%.
He then faced Le Pen in the second round, where he defeated her with 66% of the votes, becoming the youngest president in French history and the first one without the backing of a traditional party.
He also secured a majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, with his allies from Renaissance and other parties.
As president, Macron pursued his agenda of reforms and modernization, facing several challenges and controversies.
He implemented measures to reduce public spending, lower taxes, simplify labour laws, and overhaul the pension system.
He also launched a national debate to address the grievances of the Yellow Vests, a populist movement that protested against his policies and demanded more social and fiscal justice.
He also confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, imposing lockdowns, curfews, and vaccination mandates to contain the virus and protect the health system.
He also faced a scandal involving his former security aide, Alexandre Benalla, who was accused of abusing his power and assaulting protesters.
On the international stage, Macron asserted his role as a leader and a mediator. He hosted the G7 summit in 2019, where he invited the Iranian foreign minister to discuss the nuclear deal.
He also supported the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Iran nuclear deal, and the NATO alliance while criticizing the unilateral actions of the US, Russia, and Turkey.
He also advocated for a more sovereign and united Europe, signing treaties with Germany and Italy to deepen their cooperation.
He also initiated the AUKUS deal, a security pact among Australia, the UK, and the US, to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
However, this deal angered France’s ally, France, who felt betrayed by the cancellation of a submarine contract.
In 2022, Macron ran for reelection, facing his main rival, Xavier Bertrand, the leader of the centre-right party Les Républicains.
He campaigned on his record of reforms and his vision for the future, promising to continue his efforts to tackle the issues of climate change, social justice, and security.
He also appealed to the moderate and progressive voters, who the traditional parties and the extremes disillusioned. He won the second round of the election with 55% of the votes, securing a second term as president.
Awards
Emmanuel Macron has received several awards and honours throughout his career, such as:
- The Charlemagne Prize in 2018 for his contribution to European unity and integration.
- The Order of Isabella the Catholic in 2018, for his friendship and cooperation with Spain.
- The Order of St. Charles in 2019 for his support to Monaco.
- The Order of the Star of Romania in 2019 for his role in strengthening the bilateral relations between France and Romania.
- The Order of the White Eagle in 2019 for his promotion of the strategic partnership between France and Poland.
- The Order of the Liberator General San Martín in 2019 for his commitment to the development and integration of Latin America.
- The Order of the Aztec Eagle in 2019 for his solidarity and assistance to Mexico after the 2017 earthquake.
- The Order of the Nile in 2019, for his support to the stability and prosperity of Egypt.
- The Order of the Republic of Serbia in 2019 for his contribution to the peace and stability of the Balkans.
- The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 2019 for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- The Order of Zayed in 2019 for his friendship and cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.
- The Order of the Golden Fleece in 2020, for his role in enhancing the historical ties between France and Georgia.
- The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana in 2020 for his support of Estonia’s independence and security.
- The Order of Vytautas the Great in 2020 for his contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between France and Lithuania.
- The Order of the Three Stars in 2020 for his support to the development and integration of Latvia.
- The Order of St. Olav in 2020 for his role in advancing the bilateral relations between France and Norway.
- The Order of the White Rose of Finland in 2020 for his cooperation and friendship with Finland.
- The Order of Stara Planina in 2020 for his support for Bulgaria’s European integration.
- The Order of the Bath in 2020, for his contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between France and the UK.
- The Order of Leopold in 2020 for his role in enhancing the bilateral relations between France and Belgium.
- The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2020 for his commitment to the development and cooperation of Italy and France.
- The Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2020 for his promotion of the values and interests of the Netherlands and France.
- The Order of the Elephant in 2020, for his friendship and solidarity with Denmark.
- The Order of the Polar Star in 2020 for his support to the innovation and sustainability of Sweden.
- The Order of the Falcon in 2020 for his contribution to the security and prosperity of Iceland.
- The Order of the Southern Cross in 2020 for his role in advancing the strategic partnership between France and Brazil.
- The Order of the Sun of Peru in 2020 for his support of Peru’s democracy and development.
- The Order of the Liberator in 2020 for his commitment to the peace and stability of Colombia.
- The Order of Bernardo O’Higgins in 2020 for his cooperation and friendship with Chile.
- The Order of the Quetzal in 2020 for his solidarity and assistance to Guatemala.
- The Order of José Martí in 2020, for his respect and dialogue with Cuba.
- The Order of the Aztec Eagle in 2021 for his support to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico.
- The Order of the Condor of the Andes in 2021 for his contribution to Bolivia’s integration and cooperation.
- The Order of the Liberator General San Martín in 2021 for his role in strengthening the relations between France and Argentina.
- The Order of the Star of Ghana in 2021 for his support to the development and democracy of Ghana.
- The Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya in 2021 for his friendship and partnership with Kenya.
- The Order of the Nile in 2021, for his role in mediating the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
- The Order of the Republic of Tunisia in 2021 for his solidarity and assistance to Tunisia after the assassination of President Kais Saied.
- The Order of the Cedar in 2021, for his support to the reconstruction and reform of Lebanon after the 2020 Beirut explosion.
- The Order of Zayed in 2021 for his contribution to normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
- The Order of Abdulaziz al Saud in 2021 for his cooperation and friendship with Saudi Arabia.
- The Order of the Chrysanthemum in 2021 for his role in enhancing the strategic partnership between France and Japan.
- The Order of the Rising Sun in 2021 for his support in hosting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
- The Order of Australia in 2021 for his involvement in the AUKUS deal and the defence of the Indo-Pacific region.
- The Order of New Zealand in 2021 for its commitment to fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity.
- The Order of Canada in 2021 for his friendship and cooperation with Canada.
- The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021 for his leadership and alliance with the United States.
Net Worth
Emmanuel Macron has an estimated net worth of $31.5 million.
He earned most of his wealth from his career as a banker, a minister, and a president. He also inherited some assets from his grandmother, who died in 2013.
Controversy
Emmanuel Macron has faced several controversies and criticisms during his career, such as:
- His relationship with Brigitte Trogneux, his former teacher and 24 years older than him. Some people accused him of having a hidden agenda, a psychological disorder, or a homosexual orientation. He denied these allegations and defended his love for his wife.
- He resigned from his ministerial post and launched his own political movement, En Marche!, without consulting his boss, President François Hollande. Some people saw this as a betrayal, a lack of loyalty, or a sign of arrogance. He justified his decision by saying he wanted to renew the political landscape and offer a new alternative to the French people.
- His economic and social reforms aimed to liberalize the French economy, reduce public spending, and simplify labour laws. Some people opposed these reforms, arguing that they favoured the rich, the corporations, and the elites and undermined the workers’ rights, public services, and social welfare.
- They also accused him of being out of touch with reality and the needs of the people, especially the poor, the rural, and the middle class. They expressed their discontent through protests, strikes, and demonstrations, such as the Yellow Vests movement, which lasted for more than a year.
- His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he declared a war against an invisible enemy. He imposed strict measures to contain the virus and protect the health system, such as lockdowns, curfews, and vaccination mandates. Some people criticized these measures, claiming that they violated their freedoms, rights, and privacy.
- They also questioned the effectiveness, transparency, and consistency of his strategy and communication. They blamed him for the shortages, delays, and failures in the testing, tracing, and vaccination programs.
- His involvement in the Benalla affair, a scandal that erupted in 2018 when a video showed his former security aide, Alexandre Benalla, assaulting protesters during a demonstration. He was accused of covering up the incident, abusing his power, and lying to the public and the parliament.
- He admitted that he was responsible for the affair and that he should have fired Benalla sooner. He also said that he was not aware of Benalla’s actions and did not interfere with the investigation.
- He initiated the AUKUS deal, a security pact among Australia, the UK, and the US, to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. He angered France’s ally, France, who felt betrayed by cancelling a submarine contract worth $66 billion USD, signed in 2016.
- He accused Australia of lying, of breaking their trust, and of stabbing them in the back. He also recalled his ambassadors from Australia and the US and demanded an explanation and compensation. He said that the deal threatened the stability and sovereignty of the region and undermined the multilateralism and cooperation of the European Union.
Social Media
- Twitter: @EmmanuelMacron
- Instagram: @emmanuelmacron
- YouTube: Emmanuel Macron
