Here is everything you need to know about the new French Président, Emmanuel Macron

by Soma Oj.

Emmanuel Macron has just been declared the winner of the French elections with over 65% of votes ahead of Marine Le Pen, the more experienced of the duo. And a woman.

Before you have to head into the unavoidable conversations that will take place at the office (or on Twitter) tomorrow morning, here’s all the briefing you need to arm you with information that will help you not look lost. You are welcome.

Yes, he’s 39.

Mr Macron who has never held elected office will be the youngest president in the 59-year history of France. In Nigeria, he’d probably still be too young to lead the youth.

He’s an independent centrist

But not in the way one will think. You thought American political divide was confusing? Try the French. They have a multi-party system that has birthed the far right (The Republicans), the far left, the left, centre-left (Socialist), The Greens (yes, they have a party based on ecology) and even more but no, Emmanuel Macron did not find his place in any one of these. He ran as an independent – with no political party backing.

He’s pro-EU

While Marine Le Pen campaigned based on promises to lead the French people back to real French values and away from external influences – a.k.a “nationalism” but really, #Frexit – Emmanuel Macron brought a different approach. He does not want a French version of what the Brits are going through.

He’s as much of an outlier as U.S.A’s Donald Trump is

Although he’s had some government experience as a Minister in Francois Hollande’s cabinet, Emmanuel Macron is #AntiEstablishment. He ran for the first time, beating seasoned politicians at their own game. He was an investment banker that seems to eschew his place of privilege in favour of an “I-came-from-a-small-town” narrative.

Three months before he made the shocking announcement of his candidacy, he resigned his position in Hollande’s cabinet as the Economic Affairs minister and started a movement he termed “En Marche”. You can read that as “We Move”/”On the Move” – pardon my rusty French or just go with “Emmanuel Macron”.

More interesting that all of that, 

Yes! The President-elect of France is a 39-year old married to a 63-year-old, Brigitte Macron who was once his High School teacher and who left her husband and kids to marry him after he’d promised to come back for her.

Do they live happily ever after? (No, not him and his wife, they have been living happily ever after for a decade now) I meant Macron and France. We’ll see…

En Marche!

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