Michelle Obama gives new French first lady tips

She is really one of the people who has impressed me the most in my life, Trierweiler said about Michelle Obama.


Afp May 22, 2012

CHICAGO: France's new first lady, Valerie Trierweiler, Monday said she had been given some precious tips on her new role by Michelle Obama, as she eyed a future as an ambassador for equality.

"What interests me, is the beginning, the children, equal opportunity," she told reporters after a visit to a French school in Chicago, where Nato leaders held a summit.

"There is an expectation and we are getting huge amounts of letters from associations. I'll look into it, little by little."

Trierweiler, who has raised eyebrows as she is not married to new French President Francois Hollande although the couple have been together since 2007, confirmed she did not intend to give up her career.

A twice-divorced 47-year-old journalist and mother of three teenagers she plans to continue her media career and combine it with her first lady role.

"I've given up being a political journalist, so that's done, but I am still counting on carrying on," she said Monday.

Trierweiler also said that she had been impressed by her first meeting with America's First Lady Michelle Obama, who welcomed her to the White House with the other spouses of the G8 leaders.

"She is really one of the people who has impressed me the most in my life," Trierweiler said.

"She has incredible presence, and an amazing charisma. She could also launch a political career," she added, thanking Obama for her "warm welcome" and "her precious advice" on the role of the first lady.

 

COMMENTS (1)

j. von hettlingen | 11 years ago | Reply

It just shows the wisdom in the West that behind every strong man, there must be a strong woman. On May 6, 2007 Sarkozy's second wife Cecila was at his side as he claimed victory in his speech to cheering supporters on Place de la Concorde, but she wasn't with him when he went to vote and was also noticeably absent for most of the final weeks of his winning campaign. The couple divorced in October 2007, ending an 11-year marriage and her short appearance as France's first lady. Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz was seen to be behind Sarkozy's successful career. For a long time she was one of his closest political advisers. When he was minister of the interior from 2003, her office was next to his and she was known as a decisive and calming influence on Sarkozy behind the scenes. She was a very skilled negotiator and Sarkozy no doubt could have needed her advice while campaigning for his re-election. France's new first lady Valérie Trierweiler has also contributed to François Hollande's success.

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