A young 15-year-old boy named Emmanuel Macron developed a serious crush on his high school teacher Brigitte Trogneux. Teenage crushes die soon but this young French boy fell head over heels in love with his teacher Brigitte, 24 years his senior, and three years later would start dating her.

The rest is history and now the rare coupling of Emmanuel & Brigitte Macron is the first couple of France. Emmanuel Macron trounced Marine Le Pen earlier this year in the France presidential elections and credited his better half Brigitte Macron for always having his back and inspiring him to reach great heights.

France's presidential partners

France has had a somewhat controversial history when it comes to the First Lady position. Nicolas Sarkozy for instance married his model wife, Carla Bruni Sarkozy, during his term in office while his successor, Francois Hollande, underwent a nasty divorce with the then First Lady Valérie Trierweiler, after his much publicized affair with actress Julie Gayet.

The office of the First Lady is not enshrined in the constitution of France and giving Brigitte Macron that formal role would require a constitutional amendment. This would then come with a salary, a budget to fund her activities, clearly laid out responsibilities and a substantial staff including maids, drivers, security guards and personal assistants.

The French people, however, seem uncomfortable with the idea. A petition started by actor Thierry Paul Valette has attracted more than 284,000+ signatories who are opposed to formal enshrinement of the First Lady role in the constitution. They feel that the office would cost the French taxpayer some unnecessary costs that can be done without.

Going Forward

France president Emmanuel Macron has always expressed his undying love for his former high school teacher and sweetheart Brigitte Macron who he says has been instrumental in shaping the man he is today. He had stated in his campaign trail that should he assume office, the First Lady would definitely have a well defined role in his government.

Christophe Castaner, the government spokesman, has in a series of tweets come out to address the matter. He says that a transparency charter is in the works, which will be published soon to inform the people what the role of Brigitte Macron would entail.

The government spokesman has assured the people that no constitutional amendment will be done. The First Lady role will not come with any new funding or salary. People will get details about the size of her staff and how much her expenses will cost French taxpayers.