France’s First Lady, a Confidante and Coach, May Break the Mold<br />Some of these may be issues that Ms. Macron takes up as first lady, a role<br />that is undefined in France and has no government-paid staff — and polls show the French public wants to keep it that way, said Robert Schneider, who wrote a book about first ladies in France.<br />" Mr. Schneider said. that The role of first lady evolved as women in French society evolved,<br />If she’s done that for him, great." Some women see the Macrons as breaking with a pattern of powerful men adorning themselves with younger women; others<br />say French history is replete with examples of younger men seeking out older women, from Henri II’s affair with Diane de Poitiers in the 16th century on.<br />Candice Nedelec, an author of a book on them, "Les Macron," said Mr. Macron would emerge backstage from a campaign appearance<br />and reflexively ask, "Where’s Brigitte?" Mr. Macron has sometimes come off as wordy, theoretical or hard to follow.<br />France being France, this unusual couple is already stirring a lively<br />and erudite debate about sexism, ageism, masculinity, contemporary marriage, political stagecraft and what a modern French first lady should actually be.
