Controversy over François Hollande's choice of Versailles summer retreat fit for a king René Dosière, a Socialist MP famous for fighting to end the secrecy over how French politicians spend taxpayer's money, said he had advised Mr Hollande to steer clear of the domain last year. I told him I thought it much wiser to hand the Lanterne back to the prime minister. In terms of image, to know that President spends his free time in Versailles, practically in the chateau, can give rise to troublesome talk," he told France Info radio. Last year, Mr Hollande chose to head south to the 11th century presidential retreat of the Fort de Bregançon on the Riviera. It may sound idyllic, but Charles de Gaulle was so unhappy after one "nightmarish" mosquito-plagued night there in an undersize bed in 1964 that he never set foot in the place again. The Lanterne, on the other hand, is revered as a haven of tranquility by previous occupants. Ex-prime minister Dominique de Villepin said it had "one of the finest wine cellars of the French Republic" while his successor François Fillon was told "you've lost the best perk of the job" when Mr Sarkozy deprived him of the right to use it. Patrice Machuret, a France 3 journalist who has written a book on the domain, said it was a curious choice for Mr Hollande. "When Nicolas Sarkozy decided to nab this residence for himself, it was a symbol of his hyper-presidency - the epitome of a super-head of state crushing the head of his government," he said. So one can be surprised that François Hollande , who wished to appear different and closer to the French, should keep it. Once again, François Hollande is ending up acting like Nicolas Sarkozy. Last year, the state auditor also questioned whether it was proper that the 200,000 euros it costs to maintain the retreat each year was still paid for by the prime minister's office. Despite his use of La Lanterne, Mr Hollande intends to keep up public appearances throughout the summer, and has ordered his ministers to remain on call, avoid going abroad and hand in homework mid-August. In recent days, he has rushed around France, from Parisian suburbs to the depths of the Dordogne, to insist he is fighting unemployment. Le Figaro noted wearily: "At this rate, he'll even end up presenting the weather reports himself."