Macron back-pedals on creating first lady status for wife Brigitte as his popularity drops in polls
More than 200,000 people have signed a petition in the past few weeks against the plan to grant a tax-funded budget to finance his wife’s activities
French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to backpedal on the issue of creating an official first lady position for his wife amid attacks from left-wing opponents and a petition against the move, officials and reports said.
The newly elected 39-year-old president had promised in March on the campaign trail to create a “a real status” for his wife Brigitte, who is his former school teacher.
The issue has become a new political headache for Macron after an online petition against creating the role garnered more than 200,000 signatures and a poll showed a majority of French people were also opposed.
The presidency will clarify Brigitte Macron’s position in the coming days, a source said, adding that there were would be no change to the constitution to create a new first lady position.
Instead, the presidency will clarify Brigitte Macron’s resources and make public the cost to the public purse, the source and the BFM news channel said.
