Advertisement

Trierweiler wrong to write tell-all book: polls

The Local/AFP
The Local/AFP - [email protected]
Trierweiler wrong to write tell-all book: polls
Francois Hollande gives a speech flanked by his then companion Valérie Trierweiler at the Elysee palace in Paris, November 2013. Photo: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP

Valérie Trierweiler’s tell-all memoir has flown off the shelves in France, but most people think François Hollande’s ex-partner should never have written it, two new polls reveal.

Advertisement

Trierweiler's book has already become a bestseller in France since it was published last week.

Its publisher said 145,000 copies were sold in the first four days and it has ordered a further print run of 270,000 copies.

But a pair of polls published on Wednesday show a majority in France are opposed to the publication of the former first lady’s deeply personal account, titled Thank You for This Moment.

Fifty-six percent said Trierweiler “was wrong to write this book”, according to a Harris Interactive poll for the weekly news and celebrity magazine VSD. Respondents were asked for their opinions on September 4th and 5th, just after the book was published. 

Perhaps tellingly, given a backlash that has included Hollande blasting his ex for airing their relationship in public, a second poll carried out by CSA on September 8th and 9th shows even fewer French people in favour, newspaper La Depeche reports

The CSA survey says 67 percent disapprove of the publication.

SEE ALSO: The juiciest bits from Trierweiler’s tell-all book

When The Local took to the streets last week, it was apparent people felt very strongly about the book.  

Claudine Romain, 49, said she was ashamed of the president, a man who's supposed to embody all that is good in France.

“Every time I travel outside of France for my job, I hear people making fun of my country. Hollande is hated by everyone. Too bad for him, he deserves it.

"This book: Valérie Trierweiler had the right to write it. It does not change much; we were already ashamed of François Hollande before. It’s just the icing on the cake”.

Sandrine Boulet, a 33-year-old office worker, disagreed:

“Publishing the president’s private life is bound to damage French institutions in the long term. People will stop respecting him abroad. It gives a very bad image of France as a whole, which is a problem for all of us.

"If she really had things to tell Hollande, she should have told him directly and privately."

VIEW FROM ‘LA RUE’: France is being mocked for its absurd president

Hollande on Wednesday launched a fresh salvo against the scathing memoir, saying he had been particularly "hurt" by claims he secretly despises the poor.

"I don't want people to be able to say or write that I don't care about suffering in society, because that's a lie that hurts me," Hollande said in an interview with Le Nouvel Observateur.

Trierweiler was the president's partner for nine years until he brusquely ended their relationship following revelations he had an affair with an actress.

Wednesday’s interview came as Hollande was dealt yet another blow when his finance minister said France was again delaying its target to hit EU deficit rules and revising down its growth forecast.

Hollande is already the most unpopular French president in modern history as the eurozone's second-largest economy continues to be hampered by record unemployment and stagnant growth.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also