'Champagne socialist' Francois Hollande under fire as he makes his first trip as French president...in a £12,000-an-hour private jet

By Ian Sparks for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

Francois Hollande has triggered accusations of hypocrisy by making his first trip as France's newly elected socialist president in a £12,000-an-hour private jet.

The left-wing leader - who has promised massive tax hikes for the rich - was whisked into Paris in the luxurious Falcon 900 aircraft within hours of winning the election on Sunday night.

He made the 45-minute flight to address supporters at an open-air concert in the capital after spending the evening in his home town of Tulle, in central France.                             

He must be tempted...Sarkozy has kept up a dignified front in public, insisting he is not bitter about losing the presidency to Socialist Francois Hollande (left)

He must be tempted...Sarkozy has kept up a dignified front in public, insisting he is not bitter about losing the presidency to Socialist Francois Hollande (left)

Second fiddle: Hollande stood by as Sarkozy took part in a ceremony marking the end of World War II

Second fiddle: Hollande stood by as Sarkozy took part in a ceremony marking the end of World War II

His lavish choice of transport came despite his insistence just a month ago that if he was elected, he would 'travel by train'.

Twitter users were swift to attack the 57-year-old for 'breaking his promise' and being as keen on 'bling' as his luxury-loving predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.

France's Huffington Post online newspaper wrote: 'The image of Francois Hollande taking a private jet to travel 300 miles between Tulle and Paris has clearly not gone down well.

'Within hours of being elected, he is being called a hypocrite and compared to Nicolas Sarkozy.'

French actor and socialist supporter Gad Elmaleh posted on Twitter: 'Private jet, open-air concert, new girlfriend - welcome to the world of show business.'

Others said he should have chosen between celebrating his victory in either Tulle or Paris, rather than taking the jet - which was paid for by the French socialist party and not by taxpayers. Entente cordiale? Sarkozy offered a 'supportive' arm to his former rival

Entente cordiale? Sarkozy offered a 'supportive' arm to his former rival

Showing the strain: Both men appeared tense while observing a minute's silence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris

Showing the strain: Both men appeared tense while observing a minute's silence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris

But Mr Hollande's spokesman Bruno Le Roux said: 'He had no choice. He wanted to make a speech in his home town as a mark of respect.    

'But there are no trains from Tulle to Paris after 10.30pm.

'To go by car would have taken five hours, and he would not have got to Paris to thank his supporters there until 3.30am.'

Socialist party treasurer Regis Juanico added: 'This is ridiculous. In money terms, this plane cost relatively little.

'Nicolas Sarkozy used a £6,000-an-hour plane during his campaign and hardly ever travelled by train.

'But Francois Hollande only once took a private plane between Metz and Perigueux, and otherwise used the train on almost every trip.'

Today Sarkozy and Hollande met in public for the first time since the election as they marked the 67th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The former rivals laid a wreath at the tomb of the untold soldier, beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Despite winning their bitter contest, Hollande looked almost as strained as the outgoing president.  

Sarkozy is facing an uncertain future – his poor English means he is unlikely to be able to make money on the lucrative US lecture circuit, and he has ruled out any return to politics.

He has said that he would to retire, adding: 'I am not bitter.'

Lap of luxury: A falcon 900 aircraft, as used by the president

Lap of luxury: A falcon 900 aircraft, as used by the president




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