Emmanuel Macron knows how to reward his dearest faithful. The May promotion of the National Order of Merit counts among the hundreds of personalities decorated two of its former ministers: Julien Denormandie, formerly in charge of Housing and Agriculture, and Sophie Cluzel, former Secretary of State for Disability. The first is elevated to the rank of Knight of the Order, the second to the rank of Commander - the highest distinction.
Approached for a high position, Julien Denormandie had withdrawn after the re-election of the head of state to "devote himself to his family". Former deputy chief of staff of Emmanuel Macron at the Ministry of the Economy, he participated in the founding of En Marche in 2017, before being propelled minister a year later. The one who has since converted to the council is often cited to succeed Elisabeth Borne as Prime Minister. After a long stint in the associative sector, Sophie Cluzel spent the entire first five-year term at the Secretary of State for People with Disabilities.
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These two former ministers complete an already long list of faithful decorated by Emmanuel Macron. After decorating Édouard Philippe in 2017 and Jean Castex in 2021, the head of state had awarded last December the insignia of Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit to Elisabeth Borne. The president notably rewarded figures who served under previous governments, such as Christine Lagarde, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, or Jean-Pierre Chevènement.
