Ah Mr President, a word, perhaps?
Pope meets Hollande amid affair controversy
WITH the spotlight still on his alleged infidelities, an audience with the Pope was probably the last thing Francois Hollande needed.
Nevertheless, the French president was all smiles as he met with the head of the Catholic Church in Rome yesterday.
His meeting came as it emerged that his estranged girlfriend Valérie Trierweiler is determined to carry on her duties as first lady of France.
Ms Trierweiler – recovering from an apparent drugs overdose after learning of Mr Hollande’s two-year affair with an actress – is on a charity commitment in India this weekend.
Her trip is being seen by some as her ‘last stand’ as first lady. But Mr Hollande – who had the added pressure of France’s decision to allow gay marriage hanging over him as he met the Pope – is believed to be considering l eaving Ms Trierweiler f or actress Julie Gayet, 41.
Despite the timing, yesterday’s private meeting with the Pope passed off without any further embarrassment for Mr Hollande – with Pope Francis even showing his lighter side by joking about their shared name.
For Ms Trierweiler, 48, the trip to Mumbai on behalf of a French aid organisation is in her capaci ty as official escort to the French leader. A friend hinted that the visit could be her swansong in the limelight.
‘It’s a way of showing that she is attached to humanitarian causes and that she will continue to take an interest in them whatever happens,’ the friend told a French newspaper.
However, others believe Ms Trierweiler has no intention of leaving her role at the Élysée Palace quietly.
And according to one of Mr Hollande’s friends, the 59-yearold president is considering ending his affair with Ms Gayet, and ‘giving in’ to Ms Trierweiler’s appeals to save their relationship.
The friend told France’s VSD magazine: ‘Until now he has been thinking about going ahead with a separation, but he realises it’s not quite that simple. Valérie is determined to hang on to him. I know him. He is giving in to her.’