Brigitte Macron 'will not become France's First Lady'

International Desk: Brigitte Macron, the wife of French president Emmanuel Macron, will not officially be France’s First Lady, according to government officials and reports.

The decision flies in the face of Mr Macron's pre-election promise to make an official position for his wife, a move that turned heads particularly as the government is soon to pass a law preventing MPs from hiring family members as assistants, as part of his own anti-corruption drive.

But after 280,000 people signed a petition over the last two weeks in an attempt to block Mrs Macron from having a salary, it appears the government is back-pedalling.

French government spokesman Christophe Castaner took to Twitter on Monday night to stress that Mrs Macron would not have an official role.

“Brigitte Macron has a role and responsibilities. We are looking to be transparent and to outline the means she has at her disposal,” he wrote.

“No modification of the constitution, no new funding, no salary for Brigitte Macron. Stop the hypocrisy!”

Mr Macron, 39, had promised on the campaign trail in March that his wife would have a “real status”.

"Paid by the Republic, no. Having a role, a real status, a real capacity to act, yes," Mr Macron said at the time.

The presidency has said it will clarify Mrs Macron’s role in the coming days and that there would be no change to the constitution to create a First Lady position, sources told AFP and BFM TV.

The French government plans to make clear exactly how much Mrs Macron will be costing taxpayers.

"The idea is for the French people to know how much this role costs," Aurore Berge, a senior lawmaker from Macron's party, told Europe 1 radio today.

Mrs Macron currently has a team of two or three aides, two secretaries, and two security guards.

Former President Francois Hollande’s wife Valerie Trierweiler cost the public €400,000 in 2013, public figures show. Neither Ms Trierweiler or any former wife of France’s past presidents have ever had the official title of First Lady.

Source: Agencies



risingbd/Aug 9, 2017/Mukul