At 39 years of age, Emmanuel Macron is slated to be the youngest President of France .
Here’s a look at young leaders in office around the world:
- Charles Michel, Belgium – Prime Minister Michel took over in 2014 at the age of 38, becoming the country’s youngest leader since 1845. A member of the Reformist Movement party, his government is a noted for heralding socialist liberal policies in Belgium.
- Juri Ratas, Estonia – The current Prime Minister of Estonia succeeded to office in late 2016 at the age of 38. His work has been monumental in initiating changes in the wage policy of the country.
- Alexis Tsipras, Greece – Tsipras is the incumbent Prime Minister and assumed office in 2015 at the age of 40. He has been instrumental in negotiating the Greek-government debt crisis, initiating the Greek bailout referendum and handling the European refugees crisis.
- Youssef Chahed, Tunisia – The Head of Government of Tunisia was 40 when he took over in 2016. He is the youngest leader of the nation since its independence in 1956.
- Justin Trudeau, Canada – The current and 23rd Prime Minister of Canada was 43 when took the oath of office. He is also the first PM of Canada to be related to a previous serving PM, his father Pierre Trudeau. His liberal political image has been the centre of public discourse in North America.
- Andrzej Duda, Poland – As the 6th President of Poland, assumed office at the age of 43 in 2015. His positions on the refugee crisis and relationship with the EU have put his country in a controversial position.
- Giorgi Margvelashvili, Georgia - President Giorgi Margvelashvili took the oath of office in 2013 at the age of 44.
- Kim Jon-un, North Korea – The Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea was among the world’s youngest leaders when he assumed office in 2012 at the age of 30.
- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar – Sheikh Tamim became the youngest reigning sovereign in 2013, at the age of 32.
Historic young leaders
- Rajiv Gandhi, India – As the 6th Prime Minister of the country, Rajiv Gandhi assumed office after his mother’s death at the age 40 in 1984. To date, he has been the youngest PM of India.
- Benazir Bhutto – The first woman to head a Muslim-majority nation, Benazir Bhutto was just 35 when she became the 11th PM of Pakistan. She is the only female PM of the country till now.
- Muammar Gadaffi, Libya – A coup in the North African nation in 1967 saw a young 27-year old Gadaffi rise to power.
- Gamal Abdel Nasser – An iconic figure in the Arab world, Nasser was just 38 when he became the President of Egypt in 1956.
- Theodore D. Roosevelt – The youngest American President, Rossevelt assumed office in 1901 at the age of 42.
