Hollande faces crisis as his lovers fight 'the war of the roses'

Francois Hollande, the French president, was facing a personal and political crisis on Wednesday after Valerie Trierweiler, the first lady, openly backed a rival of his ex-partner Segolene Royal in parliamentary elections.

In what has been dubbed "the war of the roses", a single explosive tweet from Trierweiler sent shock waves through the Socialist Party's parliamentary election campaign. Some warned that it could cost Hollande's party crucial seats on Sunday.

A commentator close to Trierweiler, 47, said she had acted out of "blind jealousy" against Miss Royal, the 58-year-old mother of Hollande's four children, creating a private and political "psychodrama" at the pinnacle of state.

Trierweiler is said to be deeply unhappy about Hollande wading into the parliamentary campaign to back Miss Royal against a fellow Left-winger for a parliamentary seat in La Rochelle, western France.

The Socialists' failed 2007 presidential candidate is fighting an uphill battle against Olivier Falorni, the head of the local Socialist federation, who has refused a party order to step down to back her.

Miss Royal came top in Sunday's first round with 32 per cent against Falorni's 29 per cent. But she could lose Sunday's run-off to her Left-wing rival, as he has received the backing of the ousted centre-Right UMP candidate who accused Miss Royal of acting like a "rock star".

The Right would be only too happy to knock out a Socialist heavyweight like Miss Royal, whom Hollande has pledged to give the coveted post of president of the national assembly should she win as thanks for her support in party primaries.

The day began with the French president reiterating his support for his embattled ex-partner, saying: "Segolene Royal is the only candidate of the presidential majority who can be assured of my support."

He then sent Martine Aubry, the Socialist Party leader, to La Rochelle to throw her weight behind Miss Royal.

But Trierweiler fired off the 140-character missive, saying: "Good luck to Olivier Falorni who has done nothing worthy of blame, who has fought alongside the people of La Rochelle for so many years with selfless commitment."

Speculation that her account had been hacked gave way to a political firestorm when she confirmed the tweet. Miss Royal declined to react, saying only that "all my spirit, all my energy, all my thoughts are for the voters" of La Rochelle.

Hollande's Right-wing opponents, facing a drubbing in Sunday's elections, said the row was proof that his "normal" presidency was already over and "vaudeville has entered the Elysee".

"As of this morning, 'normal' presidency is well and truly dead. From now on it's Dallas at the Elysee," said Geoffrey Didier, the UMP's national secretary. Socialist allies of Miss Royal also rounded on the first lady, calling the tweet "indecent".

"We didn't elect Valerie Trierweiler, we elected Francois Hollande. So I ask, what's she playing at? I find it purely and simply disgraceful," said MP Jean-Louis Bianco.

Hollande gave no official reaction, but one of his advisers told Le Monde: "I'm completely shocked. I expected government crises, not conjugal ones. It beggars belief."

The first lady's insecurity about Miss Royal is widely known. She is said to have had her airbrushed out of Hollande's campaign film and made sure she was not invited to his inauguration. When Hollande gave Miss Royal a peck on the cheek at his victory rally, she mouthed to him: "Kiss me on the lips", which he did.

Miss Royal and Hollande presented themselves as a couple when Miss Royal ran for president in 2007. It was later revealed that he had left her for Trierweiler two years earlier, only joining forces for campaign appearances.

Bruno Jeudi, the editor of Le Journal du Dimanche, said: "There is enormous jealousy between the two. They're like two tigresses. She will have frequent contact with Francois Hollande, a prospect that Trierweiler wants to stop at all costs."

The Daily Telegraph

121808 GMT Jun12