Emmanuel Macron is an ex-investment banker and alumnus of some of France’s most elite schools. Though he previously served as economy minister, Macron was a political novice before becoming president in 2017. Born in Amiens, France on Dec. 21, 1977 and raised by a family of doctors, Macron obtained a master’s degree in philosophy at Paris Nanterre University and a master’s degree in public affairs at Paris Institute of Political Studies. He went on to graduate from the National School of Administration, training for a civil service career. After graduation, Macron went to work for the French Finance Ministry as an inspector. Forging powerful connections, he was tapped by President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 to join the bipartisan Attali Commission on economic growth. Between 2008 and 2012, Macron left civil service for the world of investment banking at Rothschild & Co. In 2007, he married Brigitte Trogneux, his high school teacher 25 years his senior. Macron was the minister of economy, industry and digital data from 2014 to 2016 under the presidency of Francois Hollande and served as the deputy secretary-general at the Elysée before being appointed a minister. Reportedly disillusioned with the governmental procedure, Macron created his own political movement “En Marche!” (On the Move!) in 2016 and won the 2017 presidential election by 66.1% in the runoff against Marine Le Pen. During his current five-year term, Macron has adopted a reform of the labor code, a law of “moralization” of politics, and medically assisted procreation for single women and female couples. His presidency was marked by terrorist attacks and he supported an anti-terrorist law and legislation against Islamist separatism. His term was also accentuated by social movements such as the protests of the Yellow Vests movement in 2018. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit France at the beginning of 2020, Macron decreed national lockdowns and curfews, and later on, a vaccination campaign and the health-and-vaccine pass. Macron was actively involved in the negotiations amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has placed sanctions with the European Union against Russia. During his campaign, Macron pledged to increase the French people’s purchasing power. He also vowed to take further environmental and climate actions, build a strong army, fight against cybercrimes, improve education, better protect the children from electronic devices and fight against bullying in schools. (Xinhua) | 