On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, Emmanuel Macron made his return to Amiens, the city of his birth. The 38-year-old Minister of Economy in Manuel Valls’ government at the time went there for a citizen meeting and announced the creation of a party bearing his initials: En Marche!
“This political movement will not be left, not right,” he promised, denying any ambition for 2017. “It’s not a movement to have one more presidential candidate, that’s not my priority today. My priority is the country’s situation.”
Since then, En Marche! evolved into La République en Marche, then Renaissance. This Monday, the party celebrates its tenth anniversary. For the occasion, Emmanuel Macron addressed a message to his members, his “dear friends” as he calls them.
In a document, the head of state affirms that he is always acting to “go beyond divisions and propose a path of hope and future to the French.” He congratulates himself on giving a new impetus to Europe, implementing necessary reforms, boosting growth, reducing unemployment, opening new rights for all, and strengthening the fundamentals of independence.
Emmanuel Macron believes that En Marche has invented “a new way of doing politics” by “opening up to civil society” in particular. He thanks all the components of the party, from secretaries-general to volunteers.
“This dynamic continues to grow. Many of you joined municipal councils last month,” he acknowledges, urging militants to “not give up.”
This message from Emmanuel Macron was conveyed to members by Gabriel Attal, the party’s secretary-general. “10 years of fights. 10 years of transformations for France. 10 years of action,” he also congratulates. “For a united France and a stronger Europe.”
The former Prime Minister is gearing up to take over from Emmanuel Macron in 2027. However, he is not the only former Matignon resident eyeing the presidential seat. Édouard Philippe, the mayor of Le Havre, is also in the running within the Macronist camp. Even though both do not openly claim this label, given the president’s popularity.
