French president’s wife tells Elle magazine her position ‘will be determined not by law but by transparency charter’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Brigitte Macron has said she will have a clear role at the Élysée Palace despite public opposition to her taking the official title of France’s first lady.

In her first interview since her husband Emmanuel was elected president in May, she also said she could not understand the fuss over their relationship and the 25-year age gap.

Her comments came after the president, whose popularity has plummeted, abandoned plans to create an official title for his wife after public disapproval.

During his campaign, Emmanuel Macron had pledged to create an “official first lady status”. But after his arrival at the Élysée, a petition opposing such a move received 314,000 signatures.

Presidential advisers have said a “communication” regarding her status will be released soon.

In an interview with French Elle magazine, Brigitte Macron said her role would be “determined not by a law but by a transparency charter” informing the French public of the number of staff assigned to her and the cost.

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“What’s important is that everything is very clear. As with my predecessors, I will have a public role, but from now on the French will know what means have been put at my disposition,” she said.

“My meetings and engagements will be published on the Élysée site so the French know exactly what I’m doing.”

Presidential aides have said Brigitte Macron, a former schoolteacher, is likely to concentrate on “education and disability” issues.

Asked if she was surprised to find herself in the Élysée, Brigitte Macron replied: “I’m so used to extraordinary things happening with Emmanuel that I wonder what the next adventure will be. And it’s been like that for 20 years,” she said.

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However, she added that French media reports that the couple had been triumphant after the first round of the election on 23 April, which sent Macron into a second round runoff with the Front National leader Marine Le Pen, were false.

“Many people believed we thought we had won after the first round. Wrong. We never thought that.”

The full interview will be published by Elle on Friday. Brigitte Macron reportedly reveals that the couple like to joke: “Emmanuel’s only fault is that he’s younger than me. When I read things about [us], I have the impression I’m reading someone else’s story.

“Our story is simple … of course, when we’re having breakfast together, there’s me with my wrinkles; he with his freshness, but that’s the way it is. If I hadn’t made the choice to be with him, I’d have been missing out on life.”

The Macrons are holidaying at a private villa in Marseille.