France to Abolish ?cole Nationale d'Administration, Alma Mater of Four Presidents

French President Emmanuel Macron [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] France has decided to close the ?cole Nationale d'Administration (ENA), which has produced four former and current presidents including President Emmanuel Macron.

On the 8th (local time), President Macron announced, according to AFP and other news agencies, "ENA will be abolished and replaced next year by a new institution called the Institute of Public Service (ISP)."

ENA, one of the elite special universities known as "Grandes ?coles," was established in October 1945 under the directive of President Charles de Gaulle after World War II. ENA students, who become civil servants upon admission, can choose their desired government department based on their academic ranking upon graduation.

Notable alumni include former presidents such as President Macron, Val?ry Giscard d'Estaing, Jacques Chirac, and Fran?ois Hollande, as well as current government officials like Prime Minister Jean Castex, Defense Minister Florence Parly, and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. Among business leaders, ENA graduates include Bernard Lathi?re, co-founder of Airbus; Jean-Cyril Spinetta, former CEO of Air France-KLM; Henri de Castries, former CEO of AXA; and Guillaume Pepy, former president of the French National Railway Company (SNCF).

Originally established to train civil servants regardless of status or background, over time ENA graduates have come to dominate the centers of power, leading to criticism that the school has strayed from its initial purpose of promoting equality. In fact, it has been revealed that over 70% of current ENA students come from so-called privileged backgrounds.

President Macron's decision to close his alma mater was largely influenced by the "Yellow Vest" protests that heated up across France from late 2018 to early 2019, demanding the resolution of inequality.

These protests, which began in opposition to the government's plan to raise fuel taxes, expanded to criticize the overall policies of the Macron administration. In response, President Macron sought to appease public sentiment by announcing in a national address at the end of April 2019 a significant reduction in income tax and his plan to abolish ENA.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.