Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte is to carry out charity work as France’s unofficial First Lady, the presidency announced on Monday.
Brigitte, 64, who yesterday opened up on the age difference between she and Mr Macron, 39, will focus on helping children and handicapped people.
She will have two presidential advisors, as well as her own cabinet, and will be at her husband’s side during international summits.
Brigitte, 64, who yesterday opened up on the age difference between she and Mr Macron , 39, will focus on helping children and handicapped people
Brigitte Macron (left) the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes singer Rihanna at the Elysee Palace to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last month
Proposals to give her official First Lady status were shelved due to opposition but an online petition to grant her the title – which would have require a change in the law – has been signed by more than 300,000.
Yesterday, she spoke for the first time about being married to a man 25 years her junior, saying: ‘The only problem is that he’s younger than me’.
In a brutally honest interview, she admitted that she was reminded of the age gap every morning when she looked at the boyish Mr Macron.
‘Of course, we have breakfast, me with my wrinkles, him with freshness, but that’s how it is,’ said Mrs Macron.
She also spoke out after public pressure forced the Macrons to abandon their plans to give Mrs Macron the official title of First Lady – claiming she was not too bothered.
‘I don’t feel like a First Lady,’ said Mrs Macron. ‘That’s the translation of an American expression, and I don’t like anything about it.’
Proposals to give her official First Lady status were shelved due to opposition but an online petition to grant her the title – which would have require a change in the law – has been signed by more than 300,000
An opinion poll in early August showed the majority of French people were against her getting the title even though she is a popular figure.
She said in an interview with Elle magazine last week that she would be an unofficial First Lady in the mould of previous presidential spouses.
She said in an interview with Elle magazine last week that she would be an unofficial First Lady in the mould of previous presidential spouses
‘Like all of those before me, I will take on my public role, but the French people will know the resources at my disposal,’ she said.
She accompanied the president to a G7 summit in Italy and was also by his side when he welcomed US President Donald Trump to Paris in July.
Macron’s office had promised a ‘transparency charter’ which would make clear how much her role would cost.
Monday’s statement confirmed that she would not be paid but did not reveal the overall bill or the number of staff at her disposal.
‘In legal terms, the first lady still does not have any status,’ Jean-Joel Governatori, a constitutional lawyer, told AFP.
‘In the end, it doesn’t change anything, other than giving the illusion of transparency.’
President Macron has made a mixed start to his five-year term, which has seen his approval ratings topple to the mid-30 percent range after 100 days in office, according to recent opinion polls.
Brigitte Macron the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron and founder of the non-governmental organization ONE, U2 singer Bono
In her interview with Elle, Brigitte Macron also spoke about her marriage with Macron, who is 25 years younger than her and a former pupil in her drama classes at a Catholic high school in the northern city of Amiens
In her interview with Elle, Brigitte Macron also spoke about her marriage with Macron, who is 25 years younger than her and a former pupil in her drama classes at a Catholic high school in the northern city of Amiens.
‘When I read about us, I always have the impression I’m reading someone else’s story,’ she said. ‘Our story is so simple.’
Despite the difficulties their relationship caused – the mother-of-three divorced her first husband in 2006 – she said she had no regrets.