Imperial, imperious or just impermeable to any criticism? As France's President Emmanuel Macron celebrates his first year in power today, he will be called all these things, and much more.

In reality, the Macron experiment is only beginning, and will require much more time before its impact can be accurately measured. Yet two conclusions are already evident: that his ideas for the reform of France are every bit as revolutionary and as audacious as those sought by General Charles de Gaulle - France's war-time hero - more than half a century ago and that their ultimate success rests with other power players, rather than Mr Macron himself.