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Each national crisis sparks reform. The 1870 catastrophe led to the establishment of the Free School of Political Sciences. The 1940 calamity birthed the National School of Administration (ENA). Emmanuel Macron, who declared “We are at war” at the outset of the 2020 health emergency, fits this historical parallel when he announced the ENA’s elimination on April 8, 2021: “Like 1945, we confront a pivotal moment. Seventy-five years prior, our nation, depleted, emerged from two conflicts facing a monumental reconstruction task. The ENA was created then, structuring our senior civil service. In 2021, a historic pandemic challenges us. Our duty is to respond with equal historical awareness.”
On January 1st, 2022, the National Institute of Public Service (INSP) formally succeeded the ENA. This institute’s inception concludes a period defined by a singular dramatic arc. Intrigue, tension, and adversity shaped its trajectory. In this and other ways, it embodies the concluding presidential term, a microcosm of Macron’s policies. Furthermore, the groundwork was laid in 2017. “I refuse a state generating administrative ‘castes,’ with predetermined careers,” Candidate Macron declared then. “I aim to strengthen meritocracy within the State, uplifting the best and most dedicated, not solely those with the academic credentials to achieve high rankings.” Consequently, “Yes,” direct access to significant government bodies (Council of State, General Inspectorate of Finance, Court of Auditors) should be abolished and practical experience prioritized, post-ENA.
A Final Gambit from Matignon
The core issues are evident. Emmanuel Macron saw the absurdity. ENA grades shouldn’t dictate entire careers, permanently differentiating those entering elite corps at 25 from everyone else. His own experience at the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) highlighted this. He articulated this perspective during reform discussions: the State mustn’t offer “a safety net for those who faltered in the private
