French President Emmanuel Macron is the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations that is taking place in all its glory today, January 26, 2024. A day earlier the French President arrived in India but his first stop was the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan. Later at night, he arrived in the capital Delhi, where the grand Republic Day parade takes place. Macron’s visit marks a unique reciprocal exchange following Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to France on its National Day in July 2023.
According to sources, in Delhi, the French President is staying at the luxury hotel ITC Maurya. He is reportedly staying on the Grand Presidential Floor of the hotel, where US Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have also stayed in the past. According to hotel sources, French President Macron is extremely warm and has a friendly demeanour. Even though he arrived at the hotel late at night, he warmly greeted the hotel staff and was all smiles.
Earlier in the day, Macron called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a dear friend, Macron took to X to post, “My dear friend @NarendraModi, Indian people, My warmest wishes on your Republic Day. Happy and proud to be with you. Let’s celebrate!”
This is the sixth time (the highest for any country) that a French leader is participating in India’s biggest ceremonial event. This tradition began with President Jacques Chirac in 1976, followed by Valery Giscard d’Estaing in 1980, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, and Francois Hollande in 2016. PM Modi and President Macron have engaged in a series of high-profile meetings throughout 2023, underscoring the strength and depth of the bilateral relationship. Their interactions have spanned various global platforms, including the COP 28 Summit in Dubai, the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. Notably, President Macron was also the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Celebrations in France in July 2023.
Emmanuel Macron was re-elected for the second term as the French President in 2022. He defeated his arch-rival Marine Le Pen by a significant margin. With his re-election to the office, he becomes the first French President to secure a second term for two decades.
Emmanuel Macron was born on 21 December 1977 in Amiens to Françoise Macron and Jean-Michel Macron. His father is a professor of neurology at the University of Picardy while his mother is a physician.
Macron did his schooling at Lycée la Providence in Amiens and Lycée Henri-IV in Paris. He holds a diploma in piano studies from Amiens Conservatory and a DEA degree in philosophy from the University of Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense. Macron obtained a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the Paris Institue of Political Studies and graduated from the École Nationale d’administration.
Emmanuel Macron was appointed as a deputy secretary-general by President François Hollande after he was elected in May 2012. In 2014, Macron was appointed to the French Cabinet as the Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs by then Prime Minister Manuel Valls. During his two-year stint in the Cabinet, he launched several business-friendly reforms.
Emmanuel Macron resigned from the Cabinet in 2016 to run for the 2017 French Presidential election on En Marche! ticket. He won the presidential election with a 66.1% vote, thereby defeating arch-rival Marine Le Pen. He is the youngest President in the history of France.
He was re-elected for a second term by defeating Marine Le Pen in the 2022 France Presidential Election. With this, he became the first person in the history of France to be re-elected as the President.
During his stint as French President, Emmanuel Macron has brought about several reforms in labour laws, taxation, pensions and a transition to renewable energy.
He has led the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the vaccination drive. He has inked several bilateral treaties with countries such as Italy and Germany and called for reforms to the European Union. He oversaw the dispute between Australia and US over the trilateral AUKUS security pact.
Under his leadership, France continued its involvement in the Syrian civil war and is in solidarity with Ukraine to help Russian de-escalation.
Emmanuel Macron Wife and Children
Emmanuel is married to his former teacher Brigitte Trogneux. The two met at the theatre workshop where Trogneux was the trainer. At that time, Macron was 15-year-old while his teacher was 39-year-old. Macron’s parents initially attempted to separate the two by sending their ward to Paris for his final year of schooling. However, after his graduation, the couple reunited and hitched in 2017.
Brigitte Trogneux has three children from her previous marriage and Macron doesn’t have a child of his own. During the 2017 presidential campaign, Trogneux helped Macron in improving his public speaking skills.