Presidential mistresses sue ‘Closer’ magazine

By a fluke of judiciary scheduling, lawsuits filed by President Francois Hollande's last two mistresses against Closer magazine were heard in court yesterday.

Valérie Trierweiler was awarded €12,000 for photographs taken of her in a swimsuit on a beach in Mauritius last month, after Mr Hollande announced that he had ended their life together.

Dozens of journalists and cameramen waited outside the courthouse in Nanterre where Julie Gayet’s case for violation of privacy was heard, though the 41-year-old actor did not attend.

Ms Gayet's lawyer, Jean Enocchi, said Closer "hunted" his client "like prey" and wreaked havoc in her hitherto "discreet" life.

Delphine Pando, the lawyer for Closer , noted that the magazine raised the legitimate question of the president's security, and said the fact that Mr Hollande discussed his private life in his January 14th press conference was "proof" that it was of public interest.

Laurence Pieau, the director of Closer , said that for months the relationship "was talked about at dinner parties, laughed about on television sets. We did our duty as journalists, by giving factual information that the public has a right to know."

The verdict in Ms Gayet’s case will be handed down on March 27th.