French President Francois Hollande has reportedly dismissed an accusation made by the former first lady in her book that says that he hated the poor as "a lie that hurts me."
Hollande said that he did not want anyone to think that he made fun of social hardship, reported the BBC.
Valerie Trierweiler, Hollande's ex-partner for nine years, has alleged in a memoir titled, Thank You For This Moment, that the Socialist President saw poor as "toothless ones," despite his reputation of being a "man of the left" who despised the rich.
The book was published last week and has already become a best-seller in France.
The allegation has been made at a time when his socialist government is struggling with high unemployment rates and stagnant economic growth and is due to face a vote of confidence next week.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app