A bad week for ‘President Normal’ just got worse

So she’s been fired! We now know why Valérie Trierweiler, the established companion of the president of the republic is currently in hospital suffering from ‘a severe case of the blues’. That must surely be the clear implication of President Hollande’s refusal at his New Year’s press conference to confirm that Valérie is still First Lady of France.

This afternoon the most powerful man in France emerged from between the marble pillars and gorgeous tapestries of the Élysée Palace, a dapper little figure in a blue suit, wearing rimless designer specs and dyed brown hair. His audience included the entire government and an international press corps and spoke for 45 minutes with his customary lack of fire about the economy, Europe, French troops in Africa and the need for social harmony. He also committed his government to the legalisation of medically-assisted suicide.