May 1st, 2017 | Updated on February 28th, 2024
Let’s be honest, one of the main reasons the world is taking such an interest in the presidential election in France is because of an intriguing extraordinary love story of the French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron and his teacher and wife Brigitte Trogneux.
Image: ibtimes.co.uk
When Emmanuel Macron fell in love with Brigitte Trogneux, a married teacher at his school, it caused something of a stir. Brigitte first met her future husband as a 15-year-old student in a conservative Jesuit school, where she, a much-married teacher, took classes in Latin, French and theatre.
Her eldest daughter Laurence was exactly Emmanuel’s age and was in the same class as Emmanuel, she was captivated by his ‘exceptional intelligence’.
The teacher and her pupil had collaborated on the play — the Art Of Comedy. Love bloomed when he was playing the lead role and the pupil-teacher spent hours together.
It was only when the play was finally staged, in front of proud parents and family, as the audience clapped before the curtain came down, Emmanuel took a bow and kissed the watching Madame Auziere on each cheek as she smiled with obvious delight.
Emmanuel Macron kisses his then teacher Brigitte Trogneux who became his wife
Years later, Brigitte confided to one of their friends: “You know, the day when we wrote that play together, I had the feeling I was working with Mozart!”
According to Brigitte, she tried to discourage her desperately young and very ardent suitor by getting him to change schools. But at 17, he declared “I will come back and marry you,” he told her, full of youthful confidence, no matter what!
Image: independent.co.uk
“I had to fight in order to live both my private and my professional life as I wish,” Macron said. “I had to fight, and it wasn’t the easiest nor the most obvious, nor the most automatic thing to do, nor did it correspond to established norms.”
And that’s exactly what happened in 2007, when they exchanged vows, after Brigitte obtained a divorce from Andre Louis Auziere, her banker husband (and father of their three children).
During his wedding speech, Macron thanked her children for “loving us as we are.” And he told the love of his life, “We’re going to shut people up.” Well, they almost succeeded.
Image: heavyeditorial
After their wedding in 2007, the couple — who call each other by the pet names ‘Manu’ and ‘Bibi’ — now live in Paris.
After a career as a banker and an economic minister, Macron announced his intention only last year to stand as a candidate in the elections.
Image: heavyeditorial.co.uk
The interesting aspect of their unusual love story is the emphasis placed on the age difference, and little else. Brigitte is a grandmother of seven. Macron visits his step-grandchildren regularly. Brigitte’s son Sebastien is two years older than him.
Image: thelocal.fr
Today, their relationship has become an issue for political watchers, who are strenuously trying to pick holes in it. Critics have suggested Macron shares a gay relationship with Mattieu Gallet, a high-profile radio journalist. But Brigitte’s youngest daughter (31) staunchly declares she has yet to meet a “happier couple” than her mother and stepdad. C’est la vie!
Image: linternaute.com
Certainly, Macron has no regrets about his teenaged coup de foudre. Time will soon tell if the people of France agree.
Source: dailymail.co.uk, telegraph.co.uk, thesun.co.uk
