Magic of Macron

At the politically tender age of 39, Emmanuel Macron - the newly-elected president - has shaken up French politics with the skill of a seasoned veteran.

His meteoric rise in the French political arena was dramatic and had made history, as Emmanuel Macron, had fought the presidential election as a candidate after forming a new party named En Marche! – meaning “On The Move!” only on 6th April 2016 – a year before the impending presidential election and he won with a massive lead of 66% over his rival National Front Candidate Marine Le Pen of 34%. 

The initials of the party are the same as the initials of Macron’s name – En Marche – E and M! Now, the party name was changed from En Marche to  La République en marche (‘The Republic on the move’) and the party had decided to run candidates in all 577 constituencies in the national assembly elections to be held on the 11th and 18th June 2017 alone without seeking any alliances with confidence.

And again, half of the candidates of his party selected are from civil society – new faces and the other half having previously held political office and half women. 

Macron has said his new parliamentary grouping will range from the left to the right, calling it a “family of progressives with French republican values”. He aims to neuter the opposition by luring moderates from both sides of the political spectrum. Even his political opponent Hollande – the previous French president  appointed Macron as the Minister of Economy and Finance, but, in August 2015, he resigned his ministership along with his membership of the Socialist Party in order to start his own party and also to stand for the presidential post.

Still, Hollande had said that he would not seek re-election in the 2017 French Presidential election and he would support Emmanuel Macron. This shows the strength, acumen, talent and shrewdness of Macron, as even his opponents holding high profile posts had not criticized him rather extended  their supports on his electoral debut.   

Hollande had gone one step further and denied that Macron had politically betrayed him, saying instead that his young former adviser had simply “freed himself” for his own political project. He added: “If he needs any advice, I’ll always be there at his side.”

Macron said: "My aim isn't to bring together the right or the left but to bring together the French people. The EU market is vital for France to re-energise its sluggish economy.  I am neither of the Left or the Right, but for  France". In his book Revolution, published in November last year,  Macron describes himself as both Left-wing and a "liberal". 

Macron said of French Muslims thus: “Personally, I do not believe we should be inventing new texts, new laws, new standards, in order to hunt down veils at universities and go after people who wear religious symbols during field trips.  But, I ask one thing: absolutely respect the rules while in public. My own deep conviction is that the laws of one’s religion go far beyond the laws of the Republic. I simply believe that when one enters the public realm, the laws of the Republic must prevail over religious law.” Macron also expressed opposition to the ban on Muslim headscarves in universities. Except the Catholics, protestants, Muslims, Jews were all supporters of Macron and hence he won.

He is a prize winning pianist and has a Masters in philosophy and was at one stage assistant to the celebrated philosopher Paul Ricoeur.

Like 46 years young 23rd Cannadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party, Macron at his 40th Year had become the 25th French President. Both have the same mind set towards the refugees influx and are broad minded and most secular – even to the extent of pro-Muslims. Macron’s tenure is keenly observed by the world and if he could succeed, then Macron’s Magic will become a great wonder in the political history.