Emmanuel Macron
President, France- Born to a family of doctors, Emmanuel Macron did his Masters in Philosophy from Paris Nanterre University. He then went for civil services training at the prestigious Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) from where he graduated in 2004
- He started his professional career as a Special Assistant to the Head of the Department for France’s Ministry of the Economy and Finance
- In 2008, he left the government job and entered the private sector as an investment banker with Rothschild & Cie Banque, the French division of the international Rothschild financial group
- In 2012, he pulled off Nestle's successful acquisition of Pfizer's baby food division for around $12 billion
- Ahead of the 2012 presidential election in France, Macron worked for Socialist candidate Francois Hollande. After Hollande's victory, Macron became Deputy General Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic and was the face of France in G8, G20 and European summits.
- In August 2014, he was appointed as the Minister for Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs and initiated a series of reforms called the Macron Law to boost the French economy that was struggling with high unemployment and slow growth
- In April 2016, Macron launched an unaffiliated movement called En Marche in his hometown Amiens which resulted in strained relations with Hollande. In August 2016, he resigned from cabinet and later that year decided to run for President in 2017
- His En Marche movement that vouched for centrist policies and supported French businesses and entrepreneurs swept the elections in 2017, defeating populist Marine Le Pen. Macron, at the age of 39, became France's youngest head of state since Napoleon
- Later in 2017, his political party La République en Marche won the legislative election, bagging 350 of 577 seats.
- In 2018, he faced protests from the “Yellow vest movement” for rising fuel costs, economic hardship and high cost of living in France
Before you go ...
- Macron loves playing the piano and studied piano for 10 years
- The French President is a football fan and during the 2018 soccer World Cup final his interactions with the Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic drew widespread media attention
- He has received awards from several countries across the world
Emmanuel Macron News
The EU faces a critical challenge as American and Chinese competitors undermine its long-standing defense and economic systems. Despite recent protectionist measures, a senior official warns the bloc's piecemeal approach is insufficient. Leaders are urgently seeking to reduce strategic dependencies and bolster its industrial base, acknowledging that inaction threatens sovereignty and competitiveness.
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived no-confidence votes, averting immediate government collapse. However, the nation's minority government faces a tough battle passing the national budget amidst a fractured parliament. Key challenges include negotiating spending plans and potential pension law adjustments, with significant fiscal decisions looming.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu narrowly survived a no-confidence vote, averting immediate political chaos and allowing him to focus on the crucial 2026 budget. His survival also prevents President Macron from needing to call snap legislative elections, a move he had considered if the government fell.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu offered to suspend pension reform to secure support, potentially averting no-confidence votes. While the Socialists will not back the motions, potential rebels from their party and the Republicans create uncertainty in the vote's outcome. This move risks undermining a key Macron legacy amidst France's political crisis.
Russia has ridiculed NATO chief Mark Rutte's remarks on its military power. Moscow claims NATO uses these statements to excuse its weak response to repeated airspace violations. Russian forces have conducted numerous provocative flights near NATO airspace. European nations are enhancing air surveillance and defense. The situation highlights a fragile security environment in Europe.
In a surprising twist, French government bonds experienced a notable surge for the second consecutive day. This uptick followed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's strategic choice to postpone an essential pension reform, aimed at averting further political gridlock. As a result, bond yields tumbled to their lowest levels in two months. Investors are now keenly awaiting Lecornu's budget strategies for 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged French President Emmanuel Macron for more air defense systems, citing Russia's exploitation of global attention on the Middle East and domestic issues. Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, exacerbating the ongoing conflict as diplomatic solutions remain stalled.
President Macron reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister despite calls for a fresh face to end parliamentary deadlock. Lecornu accepted the mission "out of duty," pledging to end the political crisis and secure a budget by year-end. The reappointment faced immediate criticism from opposition parties.
In naming Sebastien Lecornu, 47-year-old Emmanuel Macron risks the wrath of his political rivals, who have argued that the best way out of the country's deepest political crisis in decades was for Macron to either hold snap parliamentary elections or resign.
French bonds held on to gains from the day before on optimism the country can avoid a snap election and agree a budget, after talks between caretaker Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and other political leaders.
