French President Macron is having problems creating an office for his elderly wife after being publicly opposed by the public.
Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron
More than 190,000 people have expressed their opposition toward French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative to create an official First Lady status for his wife, Brigitte Macron, as of Monday morning.
The online petition was published on the change.org platform and created by Thierry Paul Valette, the founder of the “national equality” movement.
The organisation’s aim is to combat corruption and discrimination. The petition specifies that, if enacted, the special status would allow the first lady benefit from the French budget.
Having an office, staff and an allowance from the public purse are examples of some such benefits. During his presidential campaign, Macron, who took office in May, said that he wanted to create the position for his wife in order to clarify her status, promising that no public funds would be used to pay her.