LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Moment French President Emmanuel Macron kissed future wife Brigitte Trogneux when she was his 40-year-old married teacher… and he was just 15
Centre-left Macron is the step-dad to his wife's three adult children
THIS is the moment French President Emmanuel Macron kissed his future wife - when he was aged just 15 and she was his married teacher 25 years his senior.
The 39-year-old, who smashed far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in an explosive election victory, wed grandmother-of-seven Brigitte Trogneux, who is aged 64, after an illicit affair.
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The youngest President in France's history met his future wife when he was just 15-years-old when he shared a classroom at a Catholic school with her daughter Laurence who is the same age as Macron.
Pictures show the then 15-year-old schoolboy kissing his future wife on the cheek back when she taught him at school.
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In fact, Macron’s parents were stunned when they learned that Macron was romantically involved with his teacher as they believed their son was actually in love with Laurence, reports .
Writer Anne Fulda, who penned book Emmanuel Macron: A Perfect Young Man, spoke to the politician’s parents about the unconventional romance which happened while Brigitte was still married to the father of her three children.
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His parents were shocked by the sensational revelation and removed their teen son from the school in Amiens, in northern France, and sent him to finish his education in Paris.
Macron’s mother told Fulda: “We couldn’t believe it. What is clear is that when Emmanuel met Brigitte we couldn’t just say: ‘That’s great.'"
She is quoted as telling Brigitte: “Don’t you see. You’ve had your life. But he won’t have children with you.”
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Who is Brigitte Trogneux?
Brigitte Trogneux is the daughter of Jean and his wife Simone, and is the youngest of their six children.
The wealthy family own a famous French chocolate-making empire.
In June 1974 Trogneux married the banker Andre Louis Auziere and the couple had three kids together.
Emmanuel Macron, the leader of political party En Marche! and favourite to win the French presidential election, met his future wife when he was just 15 years old.
Now 39, he shared a classroom at a Catholic school with Brigitte’s daughter Laurence – who is the same age as Macron.
Macron’s parents were stunned when they learned that Macron was romantically involved with his teacher as they believed their son was actually in love with Laurence.
They removed their teen son from the school in Amiens, in northern France, and sent him to finish his education in Paris.
But the woman who could soon be France’s next First Lady told Macron’s parents: “I cannot promise you anything,” when she was told to stay away from the teen, reports Reuters.
Brigitte last year confirmed to Paris Match magazine that Macron vowed to marry her when he was just 17-years-old.
Macron married his wife in 2007 after Brigitte’s previous marriage ended in divorce.
The former economics minister is step-father to his wife’s three adult children, including son Sebastien who is two years older than Macron.
Macron does not have any biological children with his wife, although he is also the step-grandfather of Brigitte’s seven grandchildren.
France’s First Lady told Macron’s parents: “I cannot promise you anything,” when she was told to stay away from the teen, reports Reuters.
Brigitte, whose wealthy family own a famous French chocolate-making empire, last year confirmed to Paris Match magazine that Macron vowed to marry her when he was just 17-years-old.
In Fulda’s book, she is quoted as saying: “Nobody will ever know at what moment our story became a love story. That belongs to us. That is our secret.”
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Macron married his wife in 2007 after Brigitte’s previous marriage ended in divorce.
The former economics minister is step-father to his wife’s three adult children, including son Sebastien who is two years older than Macron.
Daughter Tiphaine, 30, is a lawyer who works on her step-dad’s campaign.
She reportedly described Macron as having an “exceptional personality” and being an “intelligent man.”
Macron does not have any biological children with his wife, although he is also the step-grandfather of Brigitte’s seven grandchildren.
How does the French Presidential election work?
France has a run-off voting system also known as a two round system.
After the first round of voting, if the winning candidate does not have an absolute majority (or 40-45% of the electorate with a significant winning margin) a second round is held.
But in the second and final vote only the top two candidates are kept while the others are eliminated.
In the 2017 election, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are the only two candidates who have advanced to the ‘run-off’ which will be held on May 7.
In the 2002 French presidential election, no candidate received an absolute majority so the top two – Jacques Chirac and Jean-Marie Le Pen – went to a second vote, which Chirac won.
The system ensures that the elected President always obtains a majority.
In order to be admitted as an official candidate, runners must receive signed nominations from more than 500 elected officials.
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