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Valerie Trierweiler sues authors over claim that she had two lovers

Trierweiler is herself facing a legal action in France over claims that the taxpayer should not be supporting her lifestyle as the 'president's mistress'.

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Valerie Trierweiler, the French first lady, took two authors to court on Wednesday for "violating her private life" in a book claiming that she was simultaneously the mistress of Francois Hollande and a former Right-wing minister while still married.

The biography called La Frondeuse (The Troublemaker) claims she was in relationships with Hollande, 58, and the former conservative minister Patrick Devedjian, now 68, while she was still married to Denis Trierweiler nine years ago.

Both men were aware they were "sharing" Trierweiler, 47, but when Devedjian refused to leave his wife, she chose Hollande over him, before finally divorcing her husband in 2010, the book claims. Hollande was still with Segolene Royal, the mother of his four children, at the time of the four year-long affair, it alleges.

Trierweiler demanded 40,000 euros in damages for invasion of privacy from the authors Christophe Jakubyszyn and Alix Bouilhaguet, TV journalists who were both in court.

Jakubyszyn told the judge he was "surprised to have been attacked on that particular passage" as it was "not the object of the book".

He said the book was not intended to draw up a "sentimental CV" of the first lady's life and that the passage concerning her double affair was only added right at the end. "It didn't really interest us," he said, adding: "There was no intention to harm."

He reminded the court that the book included a denial from Devedjian that such a relationship had existed, but admitted he had not put the question to Trierweiler.

Her lawyer said she would give any damages to charity.

For technical reasons, separate defamation charges will be examined at a later hearing. Devedjian, also a plaintiff, is seeking 100,000 euros.

The weekly magazine Point de Vue was also charged with running an interview with Jakubyszyn. Trierweiler seeks 70,000 euros split between the magazine and Jakubyszyn, while Devedjian demanded 40,000 euros from the pair over the interview.

Explaining the legal action, Frederique Giffard, Trierweiler's lawyer, criticised "unsubstantiated and ill-intentioned rumours aiming to sully the person and those close to her".

Olivier Pardo, the defendants' lawyer, said that, on the contrary, the book was "serious and well-documented" and that, as first lady, Trierweiler's private life had an "impact on public life".

He also produced notes belonging to Bouilhaguet, saying they showed that Trierweiler voluntarily participated in the book.

A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.

Trierweiler is herself facing a legal action in France over claims that the taxpayer should not be supporting her lifestyle as the "president's mistress".

Xavier Kemlin, a supermarket chain heir, launched the criminal complaint last week, telling French media: "It is scandalous that our taxes are being used to house, feed, upkeep and pay for the staff and travel of a lady to whom we have no legal obligation."
 

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