Macron

Lillie

Oh dear, thinking about it afterwards I knew that would upset some people - Sorry!
But as Riverwalk guesses, this is the way the rural french seem to look at it. They're very pragmatic about it, in fact this farmer's wife seems quite relieved that someone else has taken the work off her hands
Because of the system of landowning here they don't want to get divorced, as would happen in the UK. Neither of them would survive economically. Come to think of it I know of a similar situation in a farming family in the UK.
As well as that from my experience french men are still very chauvinistic, France was nearly the last European country to give women the vote.

....as this woman has a serious physical problem and can't be a proper wife.

I assume that's the farmer's expression, Tricia and not yours

..as this woman has a serious physical problem and can't be a proper wife.

Really? What an odd expression...

It's interesting about the french attitude to mistresses, lovers etc. I'd heard about it before we came here, but never spoken to a french person about it until recently. Chatting to one of our farmer neighbours, she told me about 3 or 4 couples in the village who have another sexual partner. Yet still seem to get on well with eachother.
"C'est normale" she said. I think her husband has a mistress, as this woman has a serious physical problem and can't be a proper wife.

Wish I could put myself in her positionthatbags ooops!

I doubt if she could give a hoot - she's intelligent, very attractive, young looking, ambitious and probably very much in love with him. If she had the gall (gaul!) to entice him at 15 I'm not sure that she is going to feel offended by anything said about her now!

Just put yourself in Madame Macron's place, Lillie.

No need to apologise about the French. I didn't even notice so my French comprehension is clearly better than I realised (wouldn't take much! ).

Well, that's a matter of opinion ww. I just hope that the people of Scotland take a long hard look at Greece, Italy etc, struggling France, Spain's unemployment figures and bear in mind that one day the EU will come knocking at their door demanding repayment for all that lovely money, that unlike the Barnett formula, will have to be repaid, or else!!!

"The comment about Macron and mistresses is sexist and anti-woman. Be proud of yourselves, aging ladies who think it's funny."

I disagree, thatbags. Maybe I should not have put my comment to Christine in French, sorry, but we should "stick to the the facts* and recognise that mistresses of people in high places is very common throughout French history. French royalty too, way back.

There is nothing modern in the eyes of the French about the Macron age difference either if we go back to the romantic novels of the 19th century, (Flaubert, Stendahl) which often have an older woman loved by the hero.

It is somewhat "funny" by our British standards, so why shouldn't we "ageing" grans here have a laugh? although truth be told I am half a dozen years younger than this lady. We really shouldn't take things too seriously!

It is all head in sand - the rules of engagement etc were all written down long before the UK decided to exit the EU. The Govt just did not believe it - the same as much if the country did not - so they are trying to just disagree and tell them what she wants.
The Govt have been aggressive in their manner right from the start which is not the best way to go. However many people she gets to vote for her the result of the referendum will remain the same - about a million majority which is really peanuts but unfortunately important peanuts. The EU is also well aware that many people do not agree with the result if the referendum.
People who understand how Brussels etc work have warned a number of times that the Govt do not understand what they are doing and unfortunately this is true.

nigglynellie
Well said. I don't think it will be the people of Europe that will bring it down, it will be the debt. They now have 4 countries ( including Greece) where these countries haven't a hope in hell of paying their debt. Its not their fault, they were sold a pup.
Where's the money going to come from? It's not fair that the Germans should dig deeper and the French can't.

Ageist too.

The comment about Macron and mistresses is sexist and anti-woman. Be proud of yourselves, aging ladies who think it's funny.

Good post, niggly.

While Junker and his pals persist in treating other people with arrogance and contempt you will never get reform in the EU. Of course they will be as vile to us as they possibly can be, as a warning to others with rebellious ideas. Like all the rich and powerful they cannot bear dissent and someone actually standing up to them! I have Dutch friends who are applauding us all the way. (Obviously as a country they are far too small to raise a voice in protest) What a despicable crew the EU are!

He has always said the EU needed some reforms. He is nothing like as extreme as LePen.

MD

What the hell are asking me?

The EU Commission is not necessarily held in the same awe/respect as some GN posters

Ironic that a Gran is trying to teach other Grans how to suck eggs. How many Remainers have said "I know it's flawed but remaining is the better option for the UK"?

and I think divisions may well come to light over a period of time. I hope so.

Why? If we're out it'll have nothing to do with us. Or are you banking on a Leave vote being justified?

Think the EU commission is running scared now. They are worried that others may want to leave if they don't make it difficult enough. Junker seems to have a very inflated idea of his own importance.

petra

Weh ave picked up on the same point and posted on two different threads.

Macron has been ' doing the rounds ' saying 'The EU Must
Reform or Face 'FREXIT'.

France election: Macron says EU must reform or face 'Frexit'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39766334

Of course he is only trying to take votes off of Le Penn , park his tank on her lawn so to speak.

Had the EU Commission, the top players such as the likes of Junker and Tusk, listened over many years and admitted to it's faults and concerns from the EU Parliament / the EU MEP's and indeed 'Reformed' we may never have the Referendum in the first place.

The EU Commission is not necessarily held in the same awe/respect as some GN posters and I think divisions may well come to light over a period of time. I hope so.

Macron is now calling on the eu to reform or face frexit. Now call me stupid but hasn't he been campaigning on the virtues of the eu.

He could probably afford a few if he was so inclined but not seen any whiff of anything on the news hoardings outside the Presse.

I see he wants to increase the pension age to 62 and to amalgamate the three types of pensions they have here. I know when my friend was coming up to retiring and had different pensions she had an awful job to get them all added together - I think they are all paid out I one payment a month. She would not actually retire until she had it sorted as she said it was a nightmare if you did. Le Pen wants to have the age as 60.

"I didn't know Macron's wife was so much older than him. How many mistresses does he have?"

Exactement, Azie09.

"Why would he have any Azie ? Not sure its compulsory for French politicians."

Tenons-nous-en aux faits, Christine. Hollande, Chirac, Mitterand, Giscard d'Estaing. Maybe not compulsory, but certainly "une chose fréquente."

Why would he have any Azie ? Not sure its compulsory for French politicians.
Le Pen seems to have got herself into some difficulty with EU funding, not sure of the details yet.

In case anyone hasn't seen it, this is a very good moment to watch the Channel 4 French political drama/thriller called Spin. They've just shown episode 2, it's on a Friday.

It's a very good insight into French politics and one of the main themes is of a weary President with a wayward wife.

I didn't know Macron's wife was so much older than him. How many mistresses does he have?

delighted to read your responses! I think he's pretty dishy - following in the footsteps of Obama and Justin Trudeau - why can't we have a PM who looks like that?!

As regards politics, he seems to be a curious mix of pro-business and socialist, it'll be interesting to see what happens assuming (fingers crossed!) he wins the second round..