Ten people have gone on trial accused of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron after they allegedly made "malicious" comments online spreading claims that French President Emmanuel Macron 's wife is a man.

Brigitte Macron did not show up at the two-day trial in Paris that started on Monday afternoon.

The Paris prosecutor's office said the eight men and two women are accused of spreading "numerous malicious comments" online about the first lady's gender and "sexuality" and of mentioning the age gap with her husband as "pedophilia".

Seven of the defendants were in court on Monday while three others were being represented by their lawyers.

Some of the defendants, aged between 41 and 60, are very active on social media, with posts sometimes accumulating tens of thousands of views.

Delphine Jegous

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