Andrew Bolt: Emmanuel Macron’s relationship sure packs a punch

French first lady Brigitte Macron was filmed giving her husband’s face a firm shove – or punch – on Sunday. If the roles were reversed, he’d have to quit politics.

So, we’re agreed there actually are different rules for men. I mean, if French president Emmanuel Macron had been filmed hitting his wife in the face, he’d have to quit politics.

But it’s instead his wife, Brigitte, who was filmed giving her husband’s face a firm shove – or punch – as he stood in the doorway of his plane in Vietnam on Sunday.

She meant it. Macron reeled back. Even after stepping down to his welcoming committee, he looked angry. His left hand was curled in a fist.

What’s more, Macron later admitted they’d been “squabbling, or rather joking” and people should “calm down”.

They have. C’est la vie, it seems. What’s a slap from a wife?

And that seems that. Remarkable.

Let’s not forget another double standard was already protecting Brigitte Macron.

How she first pounced on her future husband could have had her face jail had she done it here. Even more had she been male.

Their relationship started when Macron was just 15, starring in a play produced by his drama teacher who was … yes, Brigitte, then aged 39, and married with three children.

In this grab taken from video, France's President Emmanuel Macron prepares to disembark a plane on arrival in Vietnam, Sunday. Picture: Hau Dinh

They were spotted kissing, and Macron was sent by his parents to a school in Paris instead.

Only when Macron grew up could they marry.

Sure, love knows no bounds, they’ve seemed happy, and it’s France.

But what about the power imbalance in an adult slavering over her hot 15 year-old student, 24 years her junior? Who’d forgive that in a man?

We can only assume that power relationship hasn’t much changed, if Brigitte still corrects her husband by hitting him in the head. She seems a teacher who still believes in corporal punishment.

But despite ritualistic splutters from commentators insisting on upholding a principle, regardless of sex, saying violence is wrong whether from husband or wife, the fact remains that the public isn’t judging Brigitte like they would her husband, had he been the cradle-snatcher with the punchy hands.

Call it nature or sexism, but men do seem bound by an old creed best summed up by Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Men, stronger and with more testosterone-fuelled aggression, have more rules to make them domesticated and safe to be around.

That’s just how it is. See, we know a woman like Brigitte can’t pack a real punch.

No, Macron must suck it up, and all we can say is “poor bloke”.

Originally published as Andrew Bolt: Emmanuel Macron’s relationship sure packs a punch