Emmanuel Macron is set to officially take power today after an inauguration ceremony that’ll be held in the French capital, Paris.
The 39-year-old, a pro-European centrist, will make history by becoming France’s youngest president ever, taking over from outgoing President François Hollande.
The new president will however not be accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron on the red carpet because there is no outgoing first lady, thus protocol will oblige her to enter the palace before him, along with other guests.
During the ceremony, Macron will meet Hollande privately so that the latter can hand over codes for France’s nuclear arsenal.
President Hollande is then expected to show Macron around the Elysée, although the president-elect is familiar with the palace layout from his time as Mr Hollande’s advisor and later his economy minister.
The president-elect won the presidential run-off against the National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, to become the first president of France born after the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958.
During the inauguration ceremony, Macron will sign the minutes of investiture and receive the insignia of the Legion of Honour, the highest decoration in France.
In his inaugural speech, the president-elect is expected to talk about his mission to unite France and turn a new page in his country’s long history.
