Brigitte Macron’s chief of staff, Jean Spiri, 40, was briefly hospitalized on the night of March 14 to 15, after being taken care of by police officers alerted by his confused attitude in front of the British Embassy. This very close to Xavier Bertrand, elected municipal in the ranks of the right, led the Elysian team around the First Lady since January. In view of the crazy rumors distilled about his health, it seems that the former secretary general of Editis did not only make friends in the Madame Wing. He explains himself for the first time.
L’Express: What happened on the night of March 14 to 15?
John Spiri: It is very simple. I was the victim of a malaise, diagnosed by two different doctors under the term “amnesic ictus”. This momentary loss of memory forces me to reconstitute the elements of this night, which I do thanks to the testimonies of my relatives as well as to the stories of those who took care of me. I was first taken care of in the emergency room of a Parisian hospital, then around five o’clock in the morning, I was able to return to my home. The next day, I had analyzes which showed that I had not ingested illicit substances nor had acute alcoholism. Other examinations were carried out afterwards. In view of all of these investigations, the doctor at the Percy hospital concluded that he had an amnesic stroke, a diagnosis confirmed by another specialist doctor in town.
When police approached you outside the British Embassy that night, what did you tell them? Did you mention your status as an adviser to the Elysée?
The malaise I experienced manifests itself in total temporary amnesia, which has never happened to me in my life and which, believe me, is terrible. It is possible that I declined my identity and indicated to the police that I worked a few meters away, at the Élysée. But I don’t know. It is also possible with regard to the diagnosis which was made later that my remarks were confused.
What was the reaction of your employer, the Presidency of the Republic?
The people I work for reacted with care and kindness. My employer was reactive, concerned, I am grateful to him. I was able to take care of my health immediately.
Brigitte Macron, of whom you are the chief of staff, did she personally come forward to you?
Yes, she did, with kindness, as always.
Have other people at the Elysée, including the President of the Republic, expressed their concern to you?
I receive a lot of friendly messages, from colleagues as well as from my hierarchy, these are private exchanges.
To explain your discomfort, it is said that you suffered from overwork in Brigitte Macron’s office. Is it correct ?
I have been working for twenty years. I have the experience of intense and demanding work, in my previous functions as well as in this one. Tiring work for sure. I would also like to point out that Brigitte Macron is very committed to her role, as is her cabinet.
Have you been asked to resign?
No. The incident of which I was the victim fortunately leaves no sequelae, but I am on leave because my situation requires rest. I have always been 100% involved in my professional duties, which is not possible temporarily today. My current state of health therefore leads me to withdraw myself from my duties as Brigitte Macron’s chief of staff. In my life, I have held exciting positions in the service of the State, then more recently in publishing. I remain passionate about writing and literature.
Do you read the press about you?
Yes, and besides what I read for 48 hours affects me enormously. Articles have, without even trying to hear me, disseminated without verification unfounded rumors undermining my honor and my consideration. I therefore gave my lawyer a mandate to sue in defamation all the media that attributed the discomfort I suffered to excessive alcoholism, when it was of purely medical origin. I remind you that defamation is an offense punishable by law. Everyone faces health issues in life. It is unworthy to exploit them.