Former French first lady says may write a book

Valerie Trierweiler, former French first lady, walks to leave for her departure at the airport in Mumbai on Jan 29, 2014. France's former first lady Valerie Trierweiler has revealed she may write a book about her split with the President and said she
Valerie Trierweiler, former French first lady, walks to leave for her departure at the airport in Mumbai on Jan 29, 2014. France's former first lady Valerie Trierweiler has revealed she may write a book about her split with the President and said she is "more disappointed than angry" about the scandal. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

PARIS (AFP) - France's former first lady Valerie Trierweiler has revealed she may write a book about her split with the President and said she is "more disappointed than angry" about the scandal.

In an interview with Parisien Magazine to be published on Friday, Jan 31, 2014, Ms Trierweiler described her visit to India this week as a "return to freedom, far from the political world and its betrayals".

President Francois Hollande has faced criticism over the curt manner in which he announced at the weekend that he had split from Ms Trierweiler after his affair with an actress, in a brief statement to AFP.

The former first lady said she was "more disappointed than angry" about the break-up.

But she added, "I do not rule out writing a book," and observed dryly that her former partner's statement announcing the split amounted to "18 words, nearly one for each month together since his election".

She said she had replied to text messages from Mr Hollande while in India.

"He was worried about the organisation of the trip and about my health," Ms Trierweiler said.

Ms Trierweiler gave the interview during a two-day visit to India on behalf of a French charity that saw her visit a slum and witness a feeding programme for malnourished children.

In it, she said she was "keen to return to a normal life as quickly as possible because I do not want to be part of the celebrity set, and I will not be part of it."

The 48-year-old, who is still employed as an arts writer by the French magazine Paris Match, said she planned to continue charity work rather than returning to her previous role as a political journalist.

The prospect of covering Mr Hollande would be "too complicated" she admitted at the end of the trip.

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