Emmanuel Macron has been inaugurated president of France on a day filled with pomp and ceremony. After a bold and unexpected rise to the top, he now faces the task of governing a polarized nation.
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France's new President Emmanuel Macron officially took over the reins of power on Sunday, facing the challenges of a polarized country, high unemployment, terrorism and working with Germany to reform the EU.
The 39-year-old independent took over from outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande, who leaves office after five years as the most unpopular president in French history.
Macron's new home
It's time for France's new president to start packing his bags to move to the Elysee Palace. DW takes a look at the luxurious address where Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will be living.
Image: AFP/Getty Images
Presidential chambers
The Elysee Palace, located in Paris' eighth arrondissement, is truly one of the many crowning pieces of architecture of the French capital. The gates of 55 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore shield the president's palace from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Paris - despite being situated in the heart of the city.
Image: picture-alliance/akg-images/H. Champollion
Dinner with Macron
On the inside, the grand edifice also meets all the standards expected of a presidential palace. The ostentatious dining room is fittingly luxurious, from its massive chandeliers to its brocade curtains. It is accentuated by golden pillars around its edges. Dignataries from around the world have dined here, savoring the best of French cuisine.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Guillot
French cuisine
In fact, the presidential palace is renowned for its haute cuisine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is rumored to have sent her personal chef there to learn a lesson or two from the French. Being a chef at the Elysee Palace, however, is a hard gig: it is estimated that the kitchen team produces 95,000 meals per year, ranging from sandwiches to state dinners.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/D. Allard
A piece of cake
One of the many delicacies prepared the Elysee Palace is the "Galette des Rois", which means "king cake" in English. Tradition has it that on Three Kings Day each year, a large cake is made with a little figurine hidden inside it. If the president is the one who finds it in his slice, he gets to be the king of France - but only for one day.
Image: Imago/Xinhua
Born with a silver spoon - or not
A former chef working at the Elysee Palace once told reporters that the silverware and crockery used at the presidential home are so valuable that they're kept under lock and key inside a vault. Nevertheless, those granted a visit with the president apparently often still manage to take a souvenir back home - usually a teaspoon.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Guillot
The property comes with a garden...
We don't know yet whether the Macrons have green thumbs or not, but they will have plenty of space to do some gardening if they want to. The grounds are more like a park, with lots of nooks and crannies for a vegetable patch or a rose garden. Former US first lady Michelle Obama, for instance, apparently rather enjoyed gardening at the White House.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/B. Langlois
More than one room for each day
With 369 rooms and halls in total it's unlikely that there will ever be a scarcity of space at the Elysee Palace. After all, the personal chambers of the president only make up the east wing of the building, leaving plenty of room to play with. Should, however, the president not find things up to scratch, there's a team to make sure that everything is done to his utmost satisfaction.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Guillot
Goodbye yesterday, hello tomorrow
Before Emmanuel Macron can move into the Elysee Palace his predecessor, Francois Hollande, will have to vacate the presidential premises. Saying goodbye to such spectacular views might be difficult, but perhaps the outgoing president will find some comfort in knowing that many have come and gone before him. And one day, it will also be Macron's turn to say "au revoir" to Elysee Palace.
Image: picture-alliance/MAXPPP/L. Vu
The heart of the French Republic
The palace has been home to the French heads of state since 1873. The majority of French presidents have elected to reside in the luxurious premises. For the next five years, Emmanuel Macron will be joining their ranks - and perhaps for even longer. We wish Macron and the First Lady all the best at their new home, and vive la France!
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The former investment banker and economy minister in the Socialist government met privately with Hollande at the Elysee presidential palace to discuss sensitive issues, including the country's nuclear codes.
'Reformed, relaunched' EU
In his first speech as president, Macron spoke of providing "hope" and "confidence" after years in which people doubted themselves and French power. He also said the European Union would be "reformed and relaunched" during his term.
After the transfer of power, a 21-gun military salute echoed through Paris, kicking off a day of ceremonies, speeches, parades and meetings.
Next up, the hard work of governing begins. Macron plans to appoint a prime minister by Monday and a government on Tuesday. On Monday, he will also head to Berlin to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, highlighting the importance of the Franco-German relationship at the heart of an embattled EU.
New electoral challenge
But to push through his ambitious and controversial reform agenda, Macron will have to run another campaign for June parliamentary elections that French media are dubbing a "third round of the presidential election."
Macron won the second round of presidential elections last week, but he is aware that many voters backed him only to thwart Marine Le Pen's far-right Front National.
Victory for Macron - Challenge for Europe?
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The new president will need a majority to push through his pro-business reform agenda, especially controversial labor reforms designed to battle persistently high unemployment.
He will come up against conservative Republicans, Socialists, the Front National, radical left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon and powerful unions. The Republicans would like to force Macron into a coalition.
Macron's year-old En Marche! political movement, created for his presidential bid, plans to field candidates in nearly every district of the country.
This week it unveiled 428 of its 577 candidates, half of whom have no previous political experience. Macron said he wants fresh faces in politics.