Thousands sign petition seeking to halt Brigitte Macron from official 'first lady' status

Record ID: 905565

  • Title: Thousands sign petition seeking to halt Brigitte Macron from official 'first lady' status
  • Date: 7th August 2017
  • Summary: PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET IN FRONT OF RESTAURANT HEALTH WORKERS, 32-YEAR-OLD VALERIE AND 38-YEAR-OLD SABRINA, SITTING AT RESTAURANT TERRACE (SOUNDBITE) (French) 32-YEAR-OLD HEALTH WORKER, VALERIE, SAYING: "They (those who are in favour of the petition) don't want it (first lady status) because it's Brigitte Macron, so I think it's personal. It doesn't bother me, quite on the contrary. Maybe if it had been someone a bit more invested, I would have found it even more gratifying but either way it doesn't bother me." VALERIE AND SABRINA AT RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (French) 38-YEAR-OLD HEALTH WORKER, SABRINA, SAYING: "I think it's not bad to have another opinion, to highlight this status but I think they (those who are in favour of the petition) are making a whole fuss about it, as she (Valerie) said, because it's Brigitte Macron, and I think that is quite ridiculous. I'm rather in favour, I think it's a good thing, it's gratifying."
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2017 13:58
  • Keywords: France Emmanuel Macron Brigitte Macron first lady petition Thierry Paul Valette
  • Location: PARIS & LE TOUQUET, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS & LE TOUQUET, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0046T5R3NR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Over 200,000 people by Monday (August 7) had signed an online petition against French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to make the role of first lady Brigitte Macron official, a move which would entitle her to staff and an allowance from public money.
    Though France has never possessed a formal title for the first lady like in the United States, Macron had said during his campaign that he would propose a formal, albeit unremunerated, role for his wife, one which she would help define.
    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
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register