Le Macron Rouge! New president says he’s feminist ... but celebrates with can-can girls
EMMANUEL Macron was last night accused of turning his back on his feminist ideals after Moulin Rougestyle dancers took to the stage as part of his victory celebrations.
The 39-year-old, who became France’s youngest president since Napoleon on Sunday, held his victory party at the Louvre in Paris.
But as scantily clad women took to the stage, feminists were quick to raise eyebrows.
Anne-Cecile Mailfert, of women’s rights group Fondation des Femmes, said: ‘What are these women in red underwear shimmying on the Louvre stage meant to symbolise? I can’t quite grasp it.’
On Twitter, Raphaelle Remy-Leleu posted: ‘The great cause of women’s rights starts with hypersexual dancers in the courtyard outside the Louvre, is that right?’
Gender-equality activist Roman Sabathier posted a picture of the dancers with a quote from Mr Macron underneath: ‘A new page is opening,’ before adding: ‘A new page is opening… apart for the image of women on television.’
In March Mr Macron had told supporters: ‘I am profoundly feminist.’ The women in carnival-style tops, high heels and red hot pants danced to pop songs including Cake By The Ocean, with the lyrics: ‘Let’s lose our minds and go **** ing crazy.’
Many of the pop acts at the party would be unfamiliar to older voters who have backed the former investment banker. French newspaper Le Monde said the event was a ‘scene worthy of a rock star’ with a nightclub-like atmosphere.
But the mood quickly changed when Mr Macron, after a long walk towards the stage, first thanked his supporters and then told of how ‘France had won it’.
He then welcomed his wife Brigitte, 64, on stage with her daughters Tiphaine, 30, and Laurence, 40, who was in Mr Macron’s class at school.
Meanwhile Mr Macron’s opponent Marine Le Pen showed off dance moves of her own, at a restaurant on the outskirts of Paris.
Mr Macron yesterday attended a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the end of Second World War in Europe with Francois Hollande. The outgoing president smiled and shook his former economy minister’s hand, reiterating how close the pair are.
Mr Macron worked as a minister in the Socialist president’s government for two years before breaking away in order to create his own political party – En Marche! – in April last year.
‘Scene worthy of a rock star’