François Hollande: “It is difficult to live in the Élysée”

Ie Dot: Did you like the Élysée Palace?

Francois Hollande : It is a magnificent place, whatever may have been said about it, adapted to fulfill the mission of head of state and which contributes to the prestige of France. As an “inhabitant” of the palace, it is more difficult. There is little room for personal life. The private apartments are certainly nice. Many Parisians would dream of occupying such a place in the heart of the capital. But your home is also your place of work and you never cut completely with the exercise of power, which is by nature already invasive. It is for this reason that most of the presidents of the Fifth Republic did not appreciate their personal life in this palace. Pompidou was very attached to his apartment on Île Saint-Lo…