Mr Sarkozy said: “You wouldn’t have asked that question of any of my predecessors. I reflected a lot on this,” he said. Alluding to Mitterrand, he said: “Everyone knew. No one talked about it.

The President delivered a pugnacious defence against charges that he is stage-managing his private life to divert attention from discontent over his management of the country. “I take responsibility for my actions . . . If you feel you are being manipulated, don’t send your photographers after me,”