She says she will happily play "second fiddle as first lady" while remaining a working mum. She has followed changes in the Elyse Palace for years and now she can experience it herself when accompanying the new president.

But, she said, complaining a bit, she cherishes the already too-rare moments when the two shared dinner on the sofa in front of the television.

She is Valerie Trierweiler, a well-dressed political journalist who was seen as "a charming asset" to the campaign of Francois Hollande, who styled himself as Mr Normal during the election.

The French "first girlfriend" tweeted her joy on Sunday.

"Simply proud to accompany the new president of the republic and still just as happy to share Francois' life," Trierweiler announced.

Such a partner of a president can fundamentally change the role of France's first lady.

Carla Bruni, the heiress, supermodel, folksinger and former French first lady who was world famous in her own right, eventually contributed to the unpopularity of her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy.

In 2008, on the eve of French president's state visit to the United Kingdom, people showed greater interest in Bruni's wardrobe than in her brain.

Trierweiler, claiming to be the exact opposite of "bling", says she buys clothes at the market and spends time searching for stray socks under her children's beds. She also helped Hollande slim down.

In an interview with a woman's magazine, Femme Actuelle, days before Sunday's ballot, Trierweiler, laughing heartily, revealed that Hollande never closes the door behind him.

"He never closes the door to anyone, as he has nothing to hide," said the experienced journalist, managing to turn her partner's bad habit into an advantage.

The 47-year-old journalist still works for the magazine Paris Match. She was previously married twice and has three teenage sons. If she continues to work after Hollande takes office, Trierweiler would be the first among French presidents' partners to earn a regular salary.

The new French president has had a lively personal life. The mother of his four children is the politician Segolene Royal. Hollande and Royal were partners both in their lives and careers. They had been together for 30 years when Royal, the Socialist candidate for president who lost in 2007 to Sarkozy, broke up with him weeks after her defeat.

The former partners became rivals, but Royal, still influential in the party, is expected to play a role in Hollande's new government.

AFP contributed to this story.

wangchenyan@chinadaily.com.cn