Brigitte Macron: Should France Have An Official 'First Lady'?

Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, should not be given the official status of first lady, according to more than 200,000 people who have signed an....
online petition. "There is no reason why the wife of the head of state should get a budget from public funds," wrote its creator Thierry Paul Valette, an artist and equality campaigner.

A charter that codifies her role is now in preparation, according to the French media.

The French constitution gives no official status to a president's spouse, although they are typically allocated an office in the Elysée Palace, an assistant or two, and security guards.

They are also expected to accompany their partner at official engagements and often become involved in charity work.
Macron wants a "defined" role

In a TV interview during the campaign, he said that, if elected, he would want the role of first lady to be "defined".

"She [Brigitte Macron] will have a say on what she wants to be," he told TF1 in April, "I want to get out of French hypocrisy... When a person lives with you, she must have a role and be recognised in this role."

He then insisted she would not be paid by the taxpayer.

Nonetheless, "hypocrisy" is exactly what his critics are shouting.
The nepotism debate

During his campaign, Mr Macron vowed to stamp out nepotism.

His conservative rival, François Fillon, had been embroiled in a scandal over payments to his wife, which is thought to have cost him the presidency. She was allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of euros for little or no work.

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In response to the outcry, Mr Macron said he would ban politicians from employing relatives.

"Do as I say, not as I do," tweeted French politician Thierry Mariani last month. An ally of Mr Fillon, he linked to an article about speculation over Mrs Macron receiving official status and a budget.
Brigitte is 'omnipresent'

Brigitte Macron is certainly getting a lot of attention, in her homeland and worldwide.

French newspaper Libération called her "omnipresent". "The French elected a man, but it is a certainly a couple that lives in the Elysée," wrote Voici magazine.

"Brigitte! Brigitte! Brigitte!", shouted the crowd when she took the stage after her husband was elected in May. Brigitte T-shirts have featured in fashion magazines. ("Our new fashion crush", said Elle magazine.)

But she has also been targeted by abuse, often related to the 24-year age gap between her and her younger husband.