When was the last time you heard a major world leader talk about love?
Though heads of state often send well-wishes to entire populaces of other countries, it’s rare to hear them get into their own personal, mushy stuff.
But that’s what CNN’s Christiane Amanpour got French president Emmanuel Macron to do in a recent interview that also covered more traditional topics like the Iran deal.
“The world is actually obsessed right now with your marriage,” Amanpour said in reference to Macron’s ten-year union with Brigitte Macron, a woman 24 years his senior. “Tell us about it.”
“It’s always hard to speak about that,” Macron answered. “It’s part of intimacy. Love is part of my life and my balance. I do believe that you don’t build something great and you don’t behave properly if you’re not balanced and a strong couple. I’ve been with my wife for decades now and she’s part of me.”
The Macrons first met when the future president was a high school student. Brigitte Trogneux was his teacher. Although that makes their relationship unique and has garnered them a lot of attention — not all of it kind — Macron seems grounded about it all.
“For me, it’s very important for my personal balance to have somebody at home telling you the truth every day,” he told Amanpour.
He continued, “Access to truth is one of the main challenges. Somebody with her deep convictions and knowing you for what you are and loving you for what you are — not for what you represent or your role or your honors … That is very important to me. That is my anchor.”