Petition creator says giving Brigitte Macron 'First Lady' status is "seen as an injustice"

Record ID: 905559

  • Title: Petition creator says giving Brigitte Macron 'First Lady' status is "seen as an injustice"
  • Date: 7th August 2017
  • Summary: VALETTE BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (French) CREATOR OF PETITION, THIERRY-PAUL VALETTE, SAYING: "There aren't people who come before others because they're 'the wife of so-and-so'. From an institutional perspective the president is at the top of the pyramid because he's the guarantor of the institutions and he's elected by universal suffrage by all citizens, but you can't say that his wife comes before all other women, no. The title of 'First Lady' is very sensitive, it's important, and it resonates with citizens because they see it as an injustice, as a special privilege too." VALETTE'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (French) CREATOR OF PETITION, THIERRY-PAUL VALETTE, SAYING: "In the context of the cleaning up of public life, in the context of a presidential campaign which was very, very difficult. Which was gruelling and really awful, you can't now say you're going to make the wife of the head of state an official status, she'll be the First Lady, she'll have her staff, it's not even good for her, it's not good for her image."
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2017 15:03
  • Keywords: Brigitte Macron Emmanuel Macron France first lady petition Thierry Paul Valette
  • Location: PARIS & LE TOUQUET, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS & LE TOUQUET, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0056T5RPS7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The creator of an online petition against French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to make the role of first lady Brigitte Macron official said on Monday (August 7) that the move would be "seen as an injustice" by France's citizens.
    Over 200,000 supporters have signed the document, a number petitioner Thierry-Paul Valette said he waited to reach before asking for a meeting with Macron to speak about the issue, which would entitle Brigitte to staff and an allowance from public money.
    Launched two weeks ago on the website change.org, the petition calls for the creation of a first lady status to be halted at the National Assembly and that not a cent of public funds go to Brigitte.
    Brigitte, 64, was once 39-year-old Macron's high school teacher and was constantly by his side during his campaign, managing his agenda, editing his speeches and advising him on his stage presence. The couple married in 2007.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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