The main players in France’s presidential soap opera attempted to turn the page on Sunday after François Hollande put an end to his decade-long relationship with the first lady after revelations about his affair with an actress. Continue reading…
Author Archives: Anne Penketh
The truth about French women defies their cool and stylish stereotypes
Shock news from across the Channel: French women do get fat, they have brattish, fussy-eater children, chipped nails, they sometimes sleep on their own wearing big cotton knickers and they do mind if their husband is enjoying cinq-à-sept trysts with his mistress. Continue reading…
Valerie Trierweiler: A day in the life of France’s unofficial First Lady
The role of First Lady of France is not constitutionally defined. She has no specific legal status. Officially, she doesn’t exist.
But when Valérie Trierweiler, a career woman who was not married to the President, arrived at the Elysée Palace, it posed double trouble for the palace protocol. Continue reading…
Francois Hollande’s partner Valerie Trierweiler in hospital with ‘exhaustion’
Valérie Trierweiler, the partner of the French president, François Hollande, has been taken to hospital with “exhaustion” following claims that he has been having an affair, it has emerged. Continue reading…
French comedian accused of anti-Semitism to unveil new routine
The French comedian Dieudonné, accused of antisemitism and hate speech, is to unveil a new routine on Sunday night after backing down in the face of determined action by judicial authorities to ban his one-man shows across France. Continue reading…
Anne Penketh 