Clé France

THE president of France, François Hollande, announced his separation last night from Valérie Trierweiler, the temperamental first lady, after revelations that he has been having an affair with an actress.

Valérie Trierweiler is visiting India (Guibbaud Christophe).

The confirmation of a split from Trierweiler opened the latest act in a bedroom farce that has riveted France since a magazine published photographs two weeks ago of the president visiting Julie Gayet, a 41-year-old actress.

"I am making it known that I have put an end to the life in common that I was sharing with Valérie Trierweiler," the president said in his statement to the official French news agency, adding that he was expressing himself as a "private citizen" rather than a head of state because it was a matter relating to his private life.

Hollande was apparently never enthusiastic about having a first lady: voters elect a presidential candidate, not a couple, he argued. A poll last week showed that a majority of the public (54%) felt the same way. This may have sealed the fate of la première dame. She appears to be heading to the guillotine.

Article originally appeared in "The Sunday Times" on 26.01.2014 - Read the full article here.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.