Emmanuel Macron’s presidency has been marked by numerous reforms in labor laws, taxation, and pensions, as well as a strong focus on transitioning to renewable energy sources. However, he faced significant opposition from political rivals who branded him the “president of the rich.” This opposition led to a series of protests demanding his resignation, peaking with the yellow vests protests and the pension reform strike between 2018 and 2020.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in 2020, Macron took charge of France’s efforts to combat the virus and implement a vaccination rollout. In 2023, under the government of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, legislation was passed to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. However, this move triggered controversy and resulted in public sector strikes and violent protests due to the pension reforms.
In the realm of foreign policy, Macron advocated for reforms within the European Union (EU) and forged bilateral treaties with Italy and Germany. Additionally, during the China-United States trade war, he successfully negotiated $45 billion worth of trade and business agreements with China. However, his oversight of the AUKUS security pact involving Australia and the United States also sparked a dispute.