When French President Emmanuel Macron first stepped onto the world stage, his personal life garnered significant attention in the press.
There were two elements to the fascination. First, the 39-year-old politician is married to 63-year-old Brigitte Trogneux – and it would appear a relationship between a man and an older woman is ubiquitously perplexing.
Then, there was the story of where and when the couple met. Almost 25 years ago, Trogneux was a literature and drama teacher, and Macron was her 15-year-old student. He was in the same class as her daughter Laurence and, according to reports, she was who his parents initially thought he was dating.
Listen: French President Emmanuel Macron is married to an older woman, and the world can’t deal. Post continues after audio.
Now, a biography has detailed exactly how Macron’s mother, physician Francoise Nogues-Macron, and father, professor of neurology Jean-Michel Macron, discovered their son’s teenage affair with his teacher.
Speaking to writer Anne Fulda, author of Emmanuel Macron: A Perfect Young Man, Macron’s parents said it was a friend of the family who finally told them the truth. Upon learning of the nature of Emmanuel’s relationship with his teacher, 24 years his senior, the Macrons removed their son from his Jesuit school in Amiens.
“We just couldn’t believe it,” Francoise said. “What is clear is that when Emmanuel met Brigitte, we couldn’t just say, ‘That’s great’.”
Top Comments
“That belongs to us. That is our secret.”
Yeah, because the truth would have had you arrested for pedophilia.
This really feels so wrong. He never stood a chance.
If it were my son, I don't know that I could ever forgive her.
After decades together you couldn't forgive? Seems like a happier union than many where the ages are similar... He is more than old enough to make his own decisions now.
I really don't think I could. Forget and be civil and some kind of relationship over time, sure, but she was almost 40 and he was only 15, she was in such a position of power, in terms of being a teacher, her life experience, everything.
She says herself that no-one will ever know when their romantic relationship began and that that is their secret - if this were a man, people would be outraged...