First Lady backs rebel candidate

FIRST Lady Valérie Trieweiler has shocked her Socialist party colleagues by supporting a dissident candidate for the job of MP for La Rochelle against the mother of François Hollande's children.

A few weeks ago she told Femme Actuelle magazine in an interview that “François has complete trust in me – apart from my tweets”… a jokey statement which she has now conclusively proved.

While Hollande is on record saying “Ségolène Royal is the only candidate of the presidential majority who can count on my support”, Trierweiler sent out a Twitter message saying “All the best to deserving Olivier Falorni, who has been fighting alongside the Rochelais people for so many years with selfless commitment.”

Royal, who was President Hollande’s partner for many years and is president of Poitou-Charentes regional council, announced her wish to stand as the area’s MP after losing the Socialist presidential primary. She hopes to be nominated president of the National Assembly in return for having supported Hollande since his selection as presidential candidate.

She was installed as sole official Parti Socialiste candidate in this most important seat in Charente-Maritime without the usual vote among local party members. This despite the fact other local politicians were interested – including female candidates (Socialist policies on parity say the seat should go to a female MP this time).

However, Falorni, another local politician, registered himself as a candidate regardless, calling the appointment of Royal “an insult to the activists”.

He has been told by the Socialist Party to stand down, but told BFMTV: “The Paris party machine gives me orders, but forgets that it excluded me in a rushed manner just a few weeks ago. I am offering an alternative – a local candidate who lives in the constituency as opposed to one parachuted in.”

He called Ms Trierweiler’s tweet “a lovely friendly gesture”, adding: “It wasn’t expected, orchestrated; it makes me feel warm inside.”

Commenting on a press conference held recently in the town on board a boat by Socialist leader Martine Aubry and Housing Minister Cécile Duflot in favour of Royal, he described Aubry as “pathetic and ridiculous” and compared her boat to the Titanic.

Asked by the press about Trierweiler’s message, Royal said she had no comment to make. “I am focusing on the Rochelais, the electors of this constituency,” she said.