French President Francois Hollande and the first lady parted ways Saturday, with the leader declaring it’s over and his partner of several years bidding farewell to the staff of the presidential
residence.
The breakup occurred in the wake of a media account earlier this month about Hollande allegedly having an affair with actress Julie Gayet.
Hollande told a French news outlet Saturday he is ending his relationship with his partner, Valerie Trierweiler.
“I wish to make it known that I have ended my shared life (partnership) with Valerie Trierweiler,” Hollande is quoted as saying to Agence France-Presse.
Trierweiler sent a goodbye message Saturday via Twitter to the staff at the presidential palace.
“All my gratitude goes to the extraordinary people at the Élysées. I will never forget the devotion or emotion at the time of leaving,” she wrote.
Hollande’s private life has been the subject of global headlines since the French magazine Closer claimed this month he was having a two-year affair with Gayet.
Speculation about the split swirled Saturday after a French national weekly reported that Hollande was expected to announce his separation from Trierweiler on Saturday, a day before Trierweiler travels to India. The story was picked up by several French media outlets.
But the French presidency initially denied the report that an announcement would be made. “It is a rumor that circulated on the Internet today. There is absolutely no confirmation of the publication of a statement today,” the palace press officer told CNN.