French culture minister denies appointing Hollande's 'partner' to Rome jury

France's Culture Ministry has denied reports that President François Hollande's alleged lover, Julie Gayet, has been appointed to the jury of a prestigious French institution in Rome. But the actress's name had been posted on the website of the Villa Médicis.

Julie Gayet (L) and François Hollande (R)

Culture Minister Aurélie Flipetti's office on Wednesday morning announced that she had decided not to appoint Gayet to the jury, although her name had been proposed by the institution's director, Eric de Chassey.

"The order had not been signed," a statement said.

But early Wednesday morning the cultural centre's website listed Gayet as a member of the jury, which picks the 15 artists and researchers who work at the villa for 12-15 months, alongside artist Anne-Marie Clairet and choreographer, dancer Marie-Agnès Gillot and composer Lucia Ronchetti.

Members of the jury are not paid for their efforts, government spokesperson Najat Vallaud-Belkacem pointed out on Wednesday, accusing certain media of "kicking up a hullaballoo" about the question.

The posting seemed to have been taken down at 10.00am.

Wednesday's edition of the satirical paper Le Canard Enchaîné reported that Filipetti appointed Gayet to the jury just before Christmas as a peace offering after a row over de Chassey's reappointment to the body's top job, allegedly imposed by Hollande because

de Chassey's wife, actress Anne Consigny, is a "ferevent supporter" of the president.

Budget Minister Bernard Cazeneuve put his foot in it on national television while trying to fend off charges of cronyism, referring to Gayet as Hollande's "partner" before hastily retracting.

"He didn't do a thing," Cazeneuve told iTélé. "His partner is engaged in an artistic activity."

But he immediately tried to take it back

"To start with, she's not his partner," he added. "I've got nothing to confirm on that matter,

nothing to say. And this artistic activity, she has been involved in it for many years."

Housed in a beautiful building with its own park, the Villa Médicis is the seat is the Academy of France in Rome.

Laureates of its Prix de Rome include composers Georges Bizet, Hector Berlioz and Jules Massenet.

Hollande refused to comment on reports that he was having an affair with Gayet at a press conference on Tuesay but said he would clarify the situation with Valérie Trierweiller, with whom he lives, before leaving for the US in February.