When it comes to socialism, the world's premier promoter of egalite - France's Francois Hollande - is very aware that in a socialist utopia, no property is private. Hence everything can be shared, such as actress Julie Gayet with whom it was revealed last week he had an affair. The problem is that the First Lady, er, Girlfriend of France, Valerie Trierweiler, 48, did not share her boyfriend's Marxist view. And, as Reuters reports [5], when Trierweiler found out about an affair between Francois Hollande and the aforementioned Julie Gayet, 41, she was hospitalized on Sunday morning "because of exhaustion."
[6]
Hollande and Trierweiler in happier times:
And the lover, Julie Gayet, 41.
From Reuters [5]:
BFM Television said the Elysee presidential palace had confirmed that Trierweiler had been hospitalised since Friday because of exhaustion.
French daily Le Parisien said earlier on its website that Trierweiler, shaken by the revelations about the affair, had been taken to hospital on Thursday, right after hearing about Hollande's liaison. The paper said doctors had prescribed rest and that she would be discharged in a few days.
On Friday, Hollande threatened to sue celebrity magazine Closer, complaining of breach of privacy after it said he was having an affair with actress Julie Gayet.
Hollande and Trierweiler, a journalist for celebrity magazine Paris Match, are not married but have been in a long-term relationship for several years.
But before readers cry for Madame Trierweiler, recall that while Hollande is a fervent fan of socialism, the former first girlfriend some far more interested in being more equal than others. Per the Mail [7]: "She currently has five staff working for her at her office as well as numerous other taxpayer-funded perks, including homes across France, private jets and limousines. As anger at the scandal grew, politicians suggested Miss Trierweiler’s position was already untenable."
As for Hollande, it seems he is keen on taking a page right out of the Eliot Spitzer playbo(y)ok:
There were even claims that she and Mr Hollande have been living separate lives for months and that the president is keen to ‘formalise’ his relationship with Miss Gayet.
Photographers from French Closer, who watched a Paris flat a few hundred yards from the Elysee for several days, said Mr Hollande regularly met his lover there, wearing a crash helmet when entering and leaving the building in a weak attempt at disguise.
Both Mr Hollande and Miss Gayet have pledged to take action over alleged breaches of privacy following the exposure of their affair, though neither denies it.
Hopefully Hollande hasn't also taken further hints from Anthony Wiener on how to boost his image using social media.
Oh well, it may be time time for France to invade another African republic, or else Hollande's approval rating may be the first in history to turn negative.