One of the earliest AFP images of Macron, taken in 2012.
He lobbied for pro-business reforms, and acted as Sherpa at G8, G20, and European summits.
But Macron did not seem to care as distancing himself from unpopular government seemed part of his grand plan.
“He knows exactly what he is doing,” French political expert Bruno Cautres told The Local at the time.
“That's the only ambition one should have. It's radical, it seems a bit crazy talking about it tonight, but there is such energy in the country!” the fresh-faced minister said. A sign of his positive vision for France which helped him win over so many voters during his campaign.
But when he told he supporters at a summer rally that he would lead En Marche! “to 2017 and to victory”, it felt it was only a matter of time before he would quit the government…
Macron's time as minister was marked by his frequent straying from the traditional party line by questioning sacrosanct socialist policies, like the 35-hour week and fortune tax which infuriated his colleagues.
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