French prez slapgate: Emmanuel Macron is 24 years younger than wife Brigitte who was his high school teacher
Emmanuel Macron denied that he got into an altercation with his wife Brigitte Macron | Reuters, AFP
French President Emmanule Macron was apparently slapped by his wife Brigitte Macron on an aircraft when they landed in Vietnam and the shocking incident was captured by the media cameras. But those who know about the couple's relationship might not be shocked given their scandalous history.
Macron, a straight-A student, was 15 when he first met his high school teacher Brigitte Auziere at the Catholic Lycee La Providence in Amiens in 1993. Brigitte's eldest daughter Laurence was a classmate of Macron. The age of consent in France is 15.
Macron and Brigitte's affair first came to light when the duo was caught sunbathing at the home of the teacher's aging parents, reveals the biography, 'Brigitte Macron: An Unfettered Woman', written by Maelle Brun.
After the affair became public, Brigitte's friends and neighbours started avoiding her, with some even spitting on her doors. She shared three children with her banker-husband Andre-Louis Auziere and their divorce case was pending in the courts for more than 10 years.
Though Macron left Amiens to enrol at a top Parisian school, their relationship remained strong. He later pursued politics and international affairs at École nationale d'administration in Strasbourg.
Once Brigitte got her divorce, the couple tied the knot in 2007. She was 54 and Macron was 29. She subsequently quit her job as teacher to focus on Macron's political career. When Macron was appointed finance minister under President Francois Hollande in 2014, Brigitte became his key consultant.
When Macron was embroiled in allegations about homosexual relationship with Radio France chief, Brigitte backed him publicly despite being upset in private.
Macron went on to become the youngest French President in 2017 when he was 39 and Brigitte became the First Lady at 64.
On Monday, after the slapping incident, Macron turned into damage control mode. The president denied he had an altercation with his wife. "I was joking with my wife, it's nothing," he said.
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