Royal fights back over French first lady's tweet
Source: Agencies |
June 15, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE woman who spent 25 years with French President Francois Hollande has hit back at Hollande's current partner for snubbing her in a Twitter message.
Segolene Royal, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2007 just before she and Hollande split, riposted after first lady Valerie Trierweiler tweeted in support of Royal's opponent in Sunday's parliamentary election runoff.
The incident comes at a critical moment for Hollande and his Socialist Party and prompted Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to call for greater discretion from Trierweiler.
Royal was initially reduced to silence by what media dubbed the "bombshell" of Trierweiler's public declaration of support for a left-wing rival, who is running against Hollande's ex in the western seaside town of La Rochelle.
The riposte came on Wednesday night when an emotional Royal admitted that she'd been deeply offended and deserved greater respect.
"I don't have the right to let myself be shot down," she told supporters in La Rochelle. "That does not mean I am not mortified, that I am not hurt - I am not a robot."
She added: "I make a simple request - respect for political combat and respect for the mother of a family whose children also hear what is being said."
Trierweiler's tweet, apparently prompted by Hollande having expressed support for Royal's candidacy, exposed the rivalry between the two women, countering his promise of a more sober presidency after the soap opera love life of his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande and Royal, who got together at the end of the 1970s, had four children over a quarter of a century where they combined dual political careers and family life.
Segolene Royal, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2007 just before she and Hollande split, riposted after first lady Valerie Trierweiler tweeted in support of Royal's opponent in Sunday's parliamentary election runoff.
The incident comes at a critical moment for Hollande and his Socialist Party and prompted Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to call for greater discretion from Trierweiler.
Royal was initially reduced to silence by what media dubbed the "bombshell" of Trierweiler's public declaration of support for a left-wing rival, who is running against Hollande's ex in the western seaside town of La Rochelle.
The riposte came on Wednesday night when an emotional Royal admitted that she'd been deeply offended and deserved greater respect.
"I don't have the right to let myself be shot down," she told supporters in La Rochelle. "That does not mean I am not mortified, that I am not hurt - I am not a robot."
She added: "I make a simple request - respect for political combat and respect for the mother of a family whose children also hear what is being said."
Trierweiler's tweet, apparently prompted by Hollande having expressed support for Royal's candidacy, exposed the rivalry between the two women, countering his promise of a more sober presidency after the soap opera love life of his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande and Royal, who got together at the end of the 1970s, had four children over a quarter of a century where they combined dual political careers and family life.
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