Valérie Trierweiler, the girlfriend of French President François Hollande, has given plans to legalise gay marriage her personal seal of approval by announcing she will be a witness at one of the first ceremonies.

While her partner's commitment to proposed legislation allowing same-sex marriages has been questioned in recent weeks, Trierweiler revealed she had accepted an invitation to participate in the wedding of gay friends.

"I'm delighted that I'm going to be a witness at one of the very first marriages for all," Trierweiler said.

A law providing for same sex couples to wed and adopt children is expected to be on the statute book by the middle of next year.

Its passage through parliament is likely to be stormy however given strong opposition from sections of the opposition right, Catholic bishops and other religious leaders.

Hollande attempted to take some heat out of the debate last month by announcing that mayors would not be obliged to preside individually over gay marriages if they did not agree with them on principle.

That prompted allegations of "treachery" from France's main gay lobby, which accused the president of legitimizing homophobia.

Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets of Paris last month in opposition to the government's plans but opinion polls suggest most voters support the planned reform.

Representatives of the main parties in parliament agreed Tuesday that the main debate on the draft legislation will take place in the first week of February.

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Valérie, la Rottweiller pushes herself back into the news.... again, and makes trouble for her "companion" Monsieur Moi, President Normal Hollande.

As the French Republic descends to new levels of decadence and depravity, our old friend, DSK, is back in the limelight. The hearing before Judge McKeon in the DSK matter will be held in Bronx Supreme Court on December 10. He is not expected to appear himself, but his attorneys will be there to finalize the settlement, reputedly $6M Ms Diallo will likely be present.

In reading the comments in French newspapers like Le Monde and Le Figaro, to the French, it is all about money. Americans, if they are interested at all, which they really aren't, are more interested in the law.

As to why DSK would settle rather than risk a jury trial in The Bronx. His chance of winning in that venue is almost non-existent. First, because in the Bronx, whose population from which a jury us impanelled, is 89% non-white lower income or unemployed, a rich, white, Jewish French man, is not exactly the kind of defendant who would be found sympathetic. With the racial polarization in the last four years, and the class warfare that has been ginned up for political purposes, DSK would be a fool to continue. More importantly, the facts, including his history and lifestyle, would surely guarantee a loss for him, a win for Diallo. The media, and the usual race hustlers surrounding Ms Diallo set the stage for conviction early on. Basically, nobody here is interested.

This photo from last night has gone viral- he's back to his old ways, in a private club for "special tastes"

DSK en boîte de nuit : la photo qui enflamme le web

DSK BACK TO HIS OLD TRICKS

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