Pregnant Marianne advert condemned by opposition

A new government ad campaign that depicts a pregnant version of a symbol of the French republic has been heavily criticised by the opposition. The advert is being used to publicise the 35 billion euros French President Nicolas Sarkozy is hoping to raise to invest in areas like research, teaching and sustainable development.

The portrait of an expectant Marianne, dressed all in white, was published in the French national and regional press this week. The text accompanying the ad reads “France is investing in its future”.

The opposition Socialist Party has called for the ad to be withdrawn and has denounced it as a “budgetary, democratic and political scandal.” It claims Sarkozy is spending almost one million euros in state money to score political points ahead of next month’s regional elections.

Some critics have also questioned the decision to portray the Marianne in white rather than its traditional red.