Are we under-estimating the 'dynamic' Francois Hollande?

A brilliant mind, a witty companion, a bon viveur – is this why the French President gets the girls?

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(Image credit: 2011 Getty Images)

A FINAL thought on the Francois Hollande affair. Are we under-estimating the French President? Commentaries in the past few days – including my own – have never failed to point out that he's the most unpopular French president in recent history. Why, runs the subtext, would the actress Julie Gayet even be interested in him?

I asked a socialist, living in the south of France, for her view. And, to get straight to the point, she was completely unsurprised that a 41-year-old actress who, like many in the the artistic classes in Paris is a committed socialist, would fall for Hollande.

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Nigel Horne is Comment Editor of The Week.co.uk. He was formerly Editor of the website until September 2013. He previously held executive roles at The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times.