A few weeks after François Hollande took office at the Elysée in 2012, one of his advisors caught a 34-year-old Emmanuel Macron with his nose pressed against a window in the palace, watching the arrival of government members for a Cabinet meeting with fascination. This behavior continued as Macron, then Minister of the Economy, familiarized himself with the political world and sought to build project majorities beyond party divides through parliamentary compromises and his powers of persuasion. During the examination of his law aimed at deregulating to stimulate growth in 2015, Macron spent hours in commission and in the National Assembly trying to convince others of the merits of his measures. He believed that consensus was necessary to move forward and prevent left-right confrontations from dominating political discourse.
Despite Macron’s efforts, Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls decided to push the “Macron law” through Article 49.3 due to fears of not obtaining a majority vote on a text deemed too liberal by part of the left. The decision hurt Macron, who expressed his disappointment in an interview, emphasizing that he had obtained a majority vote on each article but saw political games come into play during the final vote due to upcoming elections and party activities. He saw this as evidence of the “obsolescence” and “disconnection” of a portion of the political world from reality, highlighting the challenges of navigating partisan struggles and theatrical politics.
Macron’s experience with the passage of the “Macron law” exposed him to the complexities and limitations of the political system, leading him to reflect on the challenges of building consensus and moving beyond traditional left-right divides. His views on the need for political renewal and a focus on productive debate rather than partisan theatrics shaped his evolving perspective on governance and leadership. Despite his setbacks with the law’s passage, Macron remained committed to his vision of collaborative decision-making and working with individuals of goodwill to achieve progress and social cohesion.
The rise of Emmanuel Macron within the political landscape was marked by his efforts to bridge divides and develop a new approach to governance that prioritized consensus-building and pragmatic solutions. His disillusionment with the traditional party politics and struggles for power led him to advocate for a different kind of politics that focused on policy outcomes and the common good. Macron’s early experiences as a minister and his encounters with the limitations of the political system shaped his vision for a more inclusive and dynamic form of governance that valued dialogue and compromise over entrenched ideological positions.
As Macron navigated the complexities of political life and governance, he continued to advocate for a more progressive and inclusive approach to policymaking that prioritized collaboration and dialogue. His experiences in office highlighted the challenges of enacting meaningful change in a political landscape dominated by partisan divisions and short-term calculations. Macron’s vision for a new form of politics that centered on shared goals and values resonated with a growing segment of the population seeking alternatives to traditional party politics and ideological battles. His willingness to challenge the status quo and push for innovative approaches to governance set him apart as a leader willing to take risks and explore new avenues for change.
