Non to Valerie, Non to Julie: Hollande 'wants no First Lady'

If he continues his romance with Julie Gayet, she's unlikely to be seen at the Elysee or on foreign trips

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(Image credit: 2012 Getty Images)

IT LOOKS as if Francois Hollande is going to do the sensible thing and ditch the position of First Lady while he remains President of France.

He needs a little more time to think about it - okay, to dither - but according to the French political pundit Michael Darmon of i-Tele he's already told a small group of journalists he doesn't want a first lady at the Elysee Palace.

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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.