200,000 sign petition to stop Macron making his wife First Lady

 More than 200,000 people have signed a petition to stop French President Emmanuel Macron from making his wife Brigitte officially the “First Lady” of France. The petition was triggered after the president decided to push forward with “morality” laws to tackle corruption, banning French lawmakers from hiring their relatives. The role of First Lady does […]

 More than 200,000 people have signed a petition to stop French President Emmanuel Macron from making his wife Brigitte officially the “First Lady” of France.

The petition was triggered after the president decided to push forward with “morality” laws to tackle corruption, banning French lawmakers from hiring their relatives.

The role of First Lady does not currently exist in the French constitution, and any expenses the President’s wife incurs are taken from the general budget for the Élysée.

Although Macron will not be paid for the role, she would likely receive an office, additional staff and a separate budget.

Macron has defended his decision.

“When you’re elected president of the Republic, you live with someone, you give your days and nights, you give your public life and your private life,” Macron told French broadcaster TF1.

“So the person who lives with you must have a role and be recognised in that role.”

The decision is particularly controversial because of cuts the President has already proposed to housing benefits and military spending.

Last month saw the biggest decline in popularity for a French president since Jacques Chirac in 1995.

Actor and author Thierry Paul Valette launched the petition on change.org, which had gained 198,700 supporters by Monday morning.

He wrote: “There is no reason for the wife of the head of state to get a budget out of public funds. Brigitte Macron currently has a team of two or three employees, as well as two secretaries and two security guards. That is enough.

“If this issue is to be decided, it must be done in the context of a referendum. Moreover, more than 65 per cent of the French do not favour the creation of a special status for Brigitte Macron.”