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Valérie Trierweiler spent more than previously thought, says report Valérie Trierweiler spent more than previously thought, says report
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Valérie Trierweiler cost the French taxpayer 481,900 euros (£381,000) last year as France's "first lady", a figure considerably higher than previously reported, according to an official audit. Valérie Trierweiler cost the French taxpayer €481,900 (£381,000) last year as France's "first lady", a figure considerably higher than previously reported, according to an official audit.
The revelation in a report by the court of auditors prompted Trierweiler's son Léonard to spring to her defence as it raised fresh comparisons with the lavish spending of her predecessors in the Elysée Palace, the wife and former wife of Nicolas Sarkozy.The revelation in a report by the court of auditors prompted Trierweiler's son Léonard to spring to her defence as it raised fresh comparisons with the lavish spending of her predecessors in the Elysée Palace, the wife and former wife of Nicolas Sarkozy.
The audit of palace spending in 2013 found that Trierweiler's staff of five cost 396,900 euros (£313,590). The travel expenses of the former partner of President François Hollande, for official duties and journeys linked to humanitarian work, were put at 85,000 euros (£67,152). She also had four bodyguards, whose costs were not quantified in the report by the court of auditors, which was released on Tuesday evening, as well as grace and favour offices in a palatial Paris mansion. The audit of palace spending in 2013 found that Trierweiler's staff of five cost €396,900. The travel expenses of the former partner of President François Hollande, for official duties and journeys linked to humanitarian work, were put at €85,000.
The status of first lady does not officially exist in the French constitution and Hollande was not married to Trierweiler. However, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's spending came in for public criticism after her husband – known as the "bling bling" president – left office in 2012 following his defeat by Hollande. She also had four bodyguards, whose costs were not quantified in the report by the court of auditors, which was released on Tuesday evening, as well as grace and favour offices in a palatial Paris mansion.
In May last year, following a question in parliament, the government stated that Trierweiler's five aides cost 19,742 euros (£15,596) per month, compared to a staff of eight working for Bruni-Sarkozy at a monthly cost to the taxpayer of 36,448 euros (£28,793). The status of first lady does not officially exist in the French constitution and Hollande was not married to Trierweiler. They split up this year.
Although the court of auditors never subjected Bruni-Sarkozy to such detailed scrutiny, its revelation a year ago that the website of the singer and former supermodel cost the state 410,000 euros (£323,857) between 2011 and 2012 prompted a petition urging her to donate that sum to charity. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's spending came in for public criticism after her husband left office in 2012 following his defeat by Hollande.
Léonard Trierweiler sent a tweet to Sarkozy's son Louis, pointing out that "it's not my mother who had an Elysée credit card for her personal expenses". He was referring to a credit card held by Cécilia Sarkozy who divorced the president while he was in office. In May last year, following a question in parliament, the government stated that Trierweiler's five aides cost €19,742 per month, compared with a staff of eight working for Bruni-Sarkozy at a monthly cost to the taxpayer of €36,448.
In its short section headlined "spending connected with Mme Valérie Trierweiler", the court of auditors' report notes that following the presidential couple's split in January 2013, all of the staff positions related to Trierweiler were closed. Although the court of auditors never subjected Bruni-Sarkozy to such detailed scrutiny, its revelation a year ago that the website of the singer and former supermodel cost the state €410,000 between 2011 and 2012 prompted a petition urging her to donate that sum to charity.
Léonard Trierweiler sent a tweet to Sarkozy's son Louis pointing out that "it's not my mother who had an Elysée credit card for her personal expenses". He was referring to a credit card held by Cécilia Sarkozy, who divorced the president while he was in office.
In a short section headlined "spending connected with Mme Valérie Trierweiler", the court of auditors' report notes that following the couple's split in January, all of the staff positions related to Trierweiler were closed.
Since Hollande abruptly ended their seven-year relationship after a gossip magazine revealed that he was having an affair with actor Julie Gayet, Trierweiler, a journalist, has concentrated on humanitarian work.Since Hollande abruptly ended their seven-year relationship after a gossip magazine revealed that he was having an affair with actor Julie Gayet, Trierweiler, a journalist, has concentrated on humanitarian work.