1. NEWS WORLD thesundaytimes.co.uk/news 15.04.12 23
All wait for
NIGEL DICKINSON/BERNARD PATRICK
Hollande
to pop the
question
Matthew Campbell
FORGET unemployment and
the national debt. No election
campaign issue arouses more
interest in France than
whether François Hollande,
the Socialist candidate, will
marry his girlfriend.
He and Valérie Trierweiler,
a 47-year-old, twice-divorced
journalist, have been together
since 2006 but the frontrunner
in the opinion polls has yet to
get down on bended knee.
It raises the possibility that
France, liberal in its sexual
mores but conservative when
it comes to presidential
tradition, might for the first
time elect an unmarried
president, not to mention an
unmarried première dame.
Talk of death threats
Asked by a reader of the
newspaper Le Parisien last
week if he had something
against marriage, Hollande,
57, who has never taken the
plunge, said “not at all”,
and exploitation swirl
adding: “I don’t rule out
anything on that front. But
it’s a question that concerns
only Valérie and me.”
Another interviewer
suggested that being
around Sarkozy rival
unmarried might deter the
protocol-conscious Queen from
hosting Hollande and his
Mohamed Belaid, top right, says girlfriend on an official visit
he is owed money by François to Britain. “It’s our life, we’ll
Hollande, above with his decide together,” was his reply.
‘‘
girlfriend Valérie Trierweiler Marriage has never seemed
much of a priority for the
former Socialist first secretary.
He lived with Ségolène Royal,
An aggrieved chauffeur claims The Socialist party dismisses
the Belaid affair as evidence of a
his post as the party’s first secre-
tary and therefore lost his right
Belaid said he had captured the
moment on a video that he had
earlier retirement for the poor,
urged people to vote for him
his ex-girlfriend and the
former Socialist presidential
things have turned nasty as he “dirty tricks” campaign by
President Nicolas Sarkozy to
to a driver in Paris. Belaid said
that Lamdaoui, like him of Alge-
presented to police.
“They are trying to scare
next Sunday in the first round
of the two-stage election.
candidate, for 30 years and
had four children with her.
sues the Socialist leader over pay, undermine a rival widely
tipped to wrest power from
rian origin, kept on promising
him a work contract that would
me,” he said of Hollande and
Lamdaoui.
“Some are richer than you,
but you are more numerous,”
He was once quoted as saying
marriage was “too bourgeois”
writes Matthew Campbell in Paris him after next Sunday’s vote. entitle him to full benefits. Hollande’s supporters he said, to applause. for them.
A spokeswoman denied that
Hollande owed Belaid any TWO MEN Lamdaoui, who is in charge
of Hollande’s campaign logis-
claimed the lawsuit was politi-
cally motivated. Another
Polls show him neck and
neck with Sarkozy in the first
Trierweiler, who has three
children from her second
THREATENED
money and described as “non- tics, would occasionally pay example of the “dirty tricks” round but he leads by a wide marriage, was recently seen
A TALE of brutish goings-on Times last week. “I drove him sense” claims that he and Lam- ¤200 or ¤300 (£165-£247) in cash campaign, they said, was a margin in the second, decisive, shaking hands with Royal at
among French Socialists is to parliament, to television stu- daoui were behind any threats. when Belaid threatened to quit. report on an anti-Hollande round on May 6. a campaign event in Rennes
threatening to embarrass the
party’s presidential candidate
dios, to his dry cleaner. I was
expected to be on call seven
Nicolas Cellupica, a lawyer,
said he had filed a lawsuit
TO CUT HIS Occasionally Belaid raised with
Hollande the fact that he was
website that the son of Valérie
Trierweiler, the candidate’s
Sarkozy hopes that a face-to-
face debate with Hollande on
but relations are frosty.
Hollande said last year he
only days before polling begins.
A former driver for François
days a week, 24 hours a day.”
Belaid, 39, claimed that
against Hollande and Lam-
daoui on behalf of Belaid. In it,
THROAT UNLESS not getting paid and did not yet
have a contract.
girlfriend, had been arrested re-
cently outside his school for
television before the second
round will help to convince
did not think voters would
mind having an unmarried
Hollande, the Socialist candi-
date, is suing him and one of
Faouzi Lamdaoui, one of Hol-
lande’s closest lieutenants, had
he complains about “death
threats” and demands payment
HE KEPT QUIET “He would say to me, ‘Take it
up with Lamdaoui’,” said Belaid.
smoking marijuana.
Trierweiler refused to
voters that he is a safer bet for
times of economic crisis, but
president because standards
had changed under Sarkozy,
his closest aides for failing to offered him £1,340 a month to of six months’ salary. The court Eventually his patience ran discuss the report, which has his entourage is reportedly the first French president ever
pay him six months’ salary that be Hollande’s driver. He said has three months to consider out and in June 2009 Belaid not been mentioned in the riven by doubts about how to to divorce and remarry in
he says he is owed. He also he received only a fraction of the case. refused to do any more jobs for French press. proceed. One camp is pushing office. Does that mean he has
accuses the Hollande camp of that sum and a promised “This has nothing to do with Hollande. Belaid, who has since found for a more aggressive pitch to no intention of proposing to
trying to scare him with “death employment contract never my political convictions,” said He went to an industrial work as a supermarket the far right while another sug- Trierweiler?
threats”. materialised. Cellupica, acknowledging that Race for the Elysée tribunal but could not afford a manager, claims the Socialists gests appealing to the centre. “Valerie gives me what is
Hitherto unreported in the Convinced that Hollande he is an active member of lawyer and his case was were always eager to recruit Belaid, at least, will not be most important, her love and
French press, the claims are an and Lamdaoui were taking Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP French presidential race, thrown out. His next step was people of immigrant origin voting for Hollande. “The Social- confidence,” he said last week.
embarrassment to a politician advantage of him, he resigned party. “Belaid came to me in second round to hold up a banner outside par- such as himself. ists have let me down,” he said. “Then there is her view as a
who promotes himself as a after six months but when he February. I hadn’t heard of him François Hollande liament demanding payment. “They use us to bring in the “I won’t have anything more to journalist, always useful.” He
friend of the oppressed and aired his grievance in public before then. This is about Then he received his first vote,” he said. “I was always do with them.” added: “She makes me happy,
champion of better working two men turned up on his door- defending the rights of a client 57% death threat. He says that one being encouraged to bring in that’s the most important
conditions. step and threatened to cut his who is trying to feed his of the same men of north other people.” He added: “But thing.”
Mohamed Belaid, the chauf- throat unless he kept quiet. family.” The lawyer added that Nicolas Sarkozy African origin who visited his do they really care about people IN NEWS REVIEW WW Trierweiler is keen not to
feur, claims he was engaged as “I’m very disappointed,” he he had proof of Belaid’s claims. house in 2009 reappeared out- like me? I don’t think so.” Britain’s Frog Alley parade her private affairs in
a “clandestine” worker without said. “I completely trusted him Belaid said he had begun 43% side his home last Friday and In a visit to immigrant
goes to le ballot box
public. “The first you’ll hear of
an employment contract. [Hollande]. He’s a man of state. work as Hollande’s chauffeur at threatened him again by suburbs of Paris last week, it,” she said recently, referring
“I drove Hollande every- He should be setting an the end of 2008 when the Source: CSA, April 11 passing his hand in front of his Hollande, who has promised P3 to a possible marriage, “is
where,” he told The Sunday example.” Socialist leader had given up throat in a cutting motion. higher taxes for the rich and when it’s already happened.”
Oligarchs send billions ‘Girls’ parade’ to testify
ALAN DAVIDSON
abroad in fear of Putin at Berlusconi sex trial
join in. “Come on, undress Berlusconi sent Minetti,
Mark Franchetti John Follain them . . . undress them . . . who will be a witness at his
Moscow ONE of Silvio Berlusconi’s dance,” he said. trial, ¤100,000 (£82,000) in
WEALTHY Russians have worst nightmares will come The teenagers said they felt June 2011, part of which she
embarked on an overseas true in a Milan courtroom terrified and that they were reportedly used to pay her
spending spree, fearing that tomorrow when models and going to vomit; they asked to lawyers. According to investi-
Vladimir Putin’s record third showgirls testify about his leave and were taken home. gators, Minetti has received a
term in the Kremlin will be bad “bunga-bunga” orgies. Berlusconi has branded total of ¤402,000 from Berlus-
for business and usher in a Prosecutors are banking their account “disgusting” coni since 2009.
period of stagnation. on what the Italian media and said his parties were Minetti said last week the
Capital flight in this year’s have branded “the girls’ “elegant dinners”. sums were loans made “exclu-
first quarter rocketed to £22 bil- parade” to help prove that the Also on the witness stand sively because of the known
lion, nearly double the figure billionaire former prime will be Imane Fadil, a 27- friendly relationship between
for the same period last year, minister, 75, had paid for sex year-old Moroccan model me and Berlusconi”.
according to the Russian cen- with Karima El Mahroug, a who has told investigators Niccolo Ghedini, Berlus-
tral bank. Much of the money is Moroccan belly dancer known she saw Minetti and Barbara coni’s lawyer, said it was “com-
being spent on lavish homes in as “Ruby the Heart Stealer”, Faggioli, a former Playboy pletely specious and baseless”
the United States and Britain. when she was only 17. model, dress up as nuns and to link sums that were given
This year £50 billion is Among the witnesses will strip for the prime minister in to two showgirls to the fact
expected to go abroad. The last Dmitry Rybolovlev, the billionaire father of Ekaterina, right, has bought her a £50m penthouse in Manhattan be Ambra Battilana and February 2010. that they were witnesses.
time money left Russia in Chiara Danese, two Miss Italy Prosecutors will quiz Minetti is on trial in a
such quantities was in the contestants. They were 18 and another belly dancer, Maria separate case, accused of
mid-1990s, when the country months,” said Gleb Pavlovsky, Rybolovlev also bought a apartments in Manhattan trian, is unlikely to be able to hoping to become television Makdoum, a Moroccan who aiding and abetting prostitu-
was on the verge of economic a former Kremlin adviser. sprawling ocean-front recently. enjoy her New York penthouse, weathergirls when they were said she was “horrified” by tion for recruiting girls for
collapse. “This is not least because mansion in Florida in 2008 “Clearly people with money because it is being fought over invited to the media tycoon’s what she saw at one party. “[A] Berlusconi and looking after
Unless he can stop the rich within Putin’s team there are from Donald Trump, the don’t feel entirely comfortable in her parents’ bitter divorce. Villa San Martino near Milan Brazilian girl in a loincloth them in Milan apartments
from moving part of their for- people who are in favour of property tycoon, for £62m — here [in Moscow],” said In 2008 Elena Rybolovleva, in August 2010. danced the samba in an X- whose rent was paid by the
tunes abroad, Putin, who could ditching liberal economic also a record at the time. His art Vladimir Pozner, a respected 45, her mother, filed for divorce They have told investi- rated manner. Then the prime then prime minister.
be in office until 2024, will face reforms altogether,” he added. collection, which includes political commentator on after becoming fed up with her gators that during the dinner minister touched her . . . inti- Minetti also allegedly
an uphill struggle to boost eco- “Very significant is the fact works by Monet, Van Gogh and Russian television. “Money is husband’s philandering, and Berlusconi passed around a mate parts,” she alleged. helped to get El Mahroug out
nomic growth and investment. that rich Russians are buying Picasso and is valued at like water, it finds its course, so took steps to have his bank statue of the pagan god of police custody on Berlus-
Figures show that capital flight property abroad. It’s a telling between £300m and £600m, is what we are seeing is a bad accounts frozen. After rejecting Priapus with a disproportion- coni’s orders after she was
began to soar last autumn after sign of less confidence and said to be stored outside Russia. sign.” a £500m settlement, last month ate phallus, asking his women arrested for theft. Berlusconi
he announced he would run optimism in the future. People Rybolovlev, 46, who in the Roman Abramovich, the bil- she filed a claim on the Man- guests to kiss it. “At this point is accused of abuse of office by
again, and has continued to are nervous.” mid-1990s was so worried lionaire owner of Chelsea foot- hattan penthouse, which her all the girls started to do erotic his intervention.
rise dramatically since his land- In February a trust linked to about his safety that he moved ball club, was reported last year daughter is said never to have things to each other,” the Both Berlusconi and El
slide victory six weeks ago. Dmitry Rybolovlev, a fertiliser his family to Switzerland and to have spent £90m on a visited since the purchase. teenagers said. Mahroug deny having had any
“This outflow is coming oligarch estimated to be worth took to wearing a bulletproof mansion in Kensington Palace “The fate of New York’s most Later, in “the bunga-bunga sexual contact. Berlusconi has
from Russian business people £6 billion, bought for his vest, also owns properties in Gardens, west London. The expensive student pad won’t room”, Berlusconi repeatedly said he has never paid for sex
sending their money abroad, daughter Ekaterina, 22, a four- Paris, Dubai and Geneva. Last house, with 15 bedrooms and worry Putin but he’s definitely touched the teenagers’ and that although he inter-
either to avoid corruption or bedroom penthouse off Central December he bought two thirds extensive gardens, is report- one to understand the serious- bottoms. They claim they saw vened to free her, he did so
because they have no place to Park for £50m — a record of the Monaco football club. edly being fitted with an ness of $80 billion, which Nicole Minetti, the Anglo- only because he had been led
invest it here,” said Alexander amount for an apartment in Russian buyers have been underground playroom with a ought to be invested in Russia, Italian former showgirl who is to believe she was the niece of
Morozov, chief economist at New York City. responsible for several other tennis court, spa and gym, and leaving the country,” said a now a regional councillor for Hosni Mubarak, the former
HSBC in Moscow. The penthouse has a library, property deals in New York. a private museum for his six former Kremlin aide. his party, perform a naked Egyptian leader.
“There is a lot of insecurity as an oval custom-made bedroom, Igor Krutoy, a composer, and classic Ferraris. “It’s hardly a vote of confi- pole-dance for him. If convicted, Berlusconi
no one can predict what course and a huge terrace that Andrei Vavilov, a former Despite her father’s fabulous dence, especially for someone As the other women danced could be jailed for up to six
Russia will take under Putin, overlooks the park. It was deputy finance minister, paid wealth, Ekaterina Rybolovleva, who believes he is on a mission and stripped, Berlusconi years and be banned from
not even over the next few reportedly paid for in cash. £30m and £23m respectively for a student and passionate eques- to save Russia.” urged Battilana and Danese to Minetti: ‘danced naked’ holding public office.