French president François Hollande has confirmed that he had
separated from his partner of seven years Valerie Trierweiler.
He told the French news agency Agence France-Presse in a
telephone call on Saturday evening: "I make it known that I have put an
end to the relationship."
The announcement came two weeks after it was reported that
he was having an affair with a French actress when a magazine published
photographs which appeared to show him visiting the actress Julie Gayet.
Trierweiler spent a week in hospital following publication
after reportedly taking "one pill too many". Since she left hospital,
she has been staying at an official residence, La Lanterne, near Versailles.
Trierweiler, who has continued to work as a journalist for
the glossy magazine Paris-Match, is travelling to India on Sunday in support of
the work of the French charity Action Against Hunger.
Hollande told AFP he was speaking in a personal capacity and
not as the head of state.
Trierweiler and Hollande have never married. She announced
their relationship six months after he left his previous partner, one-time
French presidential candidate Segolene Royal, with whom he has four children.
Earlier in the day, his office at the Elysee Palace had said
"false rumours" had been circulating in the French media about the
split, and no statement would be forthcoming.
Hollande, who has never denied having an affair with Julie
Gayet, has admitted to a "difficult moment" in his relationship with
Trierweiler.
Gayet is suing the magazine for €50,000 (£41,650) in damages
and €4,000 (£3,330) in legal costs, claiming it breached French privacy rules.
Hollande, who has himself threatened legal action over the
pictures, said he was "totally indignant" about the story, which he
claimed threatened the principle of "respect for private life and people's
dignity".
No comments:
Post a Comment