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Emmanuel Macron: From investment banker to economic advisor, 'En Marche!' founder poised to become France’s youngest ever president

Emmanuel Macron, The Founder Of The Political Movement En Marche! Is All Set To Become The Youngest President In The History Of France.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Gautam Lalotra | Updated on: 24 Apr 2017, 05:13:26 PM
Emmanuel Macron - File Photo

New Delhi:

39-year-old Emmanuel Macron, the founder of the political movement "En Marche!" is all set to become the youngest president in the history of France.

Without the backing of a major political party, the former merchant banker is expected by pollsters to defeat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in a face-off next month. Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen face a run-off election on 7 May in which Mr Macron is expected to triumph.

"I want to be your president," he told his supporters after he was declared winner according to early results of the first round of the French presidential vote.

So let us know about Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frederic Macron's life and political career

Early Life 

Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frederic Macron was born on December 21, 1977, in Amiens to Francoise Nogues, a physician, and Jean-Michel Macron, Professor of neurology at the University of Picardy. After working as a public servant, he became an investment banker at Rothschild, earning millions before becoming an economic advisor. His career leapfrogged to great heights and earned millions, before becoming an economic advisor to Francois Hollande’s presidency in 2012 and then economy minister two years later.    

Education and Married Life

He got married to Brigitte Trogneux, his former school teacher in La Providence high school in Amiens, who is 24 years older than him. They first met when he was fifteen and have officially been a couple since Macron turned 18. Macron says she is his right hand in preparing campaign speeches.

On Sunday, the couple cast their ballots at the polling station in the Northern French resort city of Le Touquet. Coincidentally, the polling station was located in the same town hall where they were married 10 years ago, in October 2007

Macron obtained a master's degree in public affairs at Sciences Po, before training for a senior civil service career at the Ecole nationale d'administration (ENA) in Strasbourg. He graduated in 2004. But instead of immediately entering politics, Macron assumed a post at the Rothschild bank.

Political Career

In 2006, Macron became a member of the Socialist Party (PS). From 2012 to 2014, he served as an advisor to President Francois Hollande, but resigned a year later after the latter failed to appoint him as chief of his administration. He returned to politics on August 26, 2014, when he was appointed the economy minister.

While a member of Hollande’s government, Macron earned a reputation of a liberal politician, advocating balanced state finances and liberal market. His most notable initiative was a bill intended to spur business activity and ensure equal possibilities.

In 2015, he announced that he was an independent politician and in August 2016 resigned from the government. This came shortly after he announced the foundation of his own political movement, "En Marche!". Macron has described this organization as being a mix of elements from both the left and the right.

Electoral Campaign

He opened his 2017 electoral campaign with a nearly two-hour speech at a rally in Paris, starting it with asking his supporters: "Are you ready to change France?"

Macron lays great emphasis to the problem of unemployment, which President Hollande failed to solve, among his top domestic policy priorities.

"I want to speak about our battle against unemployment, which adjudges some of our people to spend their days under a house arrest. It would be an economic and social battle," the presidential hopeful said, promising to create favorable conditions for employers and employees.

Macron explained that he decided to run for the presidency when he understood that only a president has the power to truly reform the country.He is convinced that he bears no responsibility for the social and economic developments in France in the past five years. "I was neither a president, nor a prime minister," he said once.

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First Published : 24 Apr 2017, 04:59:00 PM

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