It appears that they started as idle tweets that were picked up by the foreign press only after they were referred to in a blog on the Journal du Dimanche's website.

ECONOMIST: Privacy in France

An Ifop poll published in Sunday's Journal du Dimanche showed 75 per cent of voters doubted Mr Hollande would be able to fulfil his promise to "invert the curve" of unemployment by the end of the year.

CNN: France hints at lowering 75% tax rate

The Sunday tabloid published a survey on Greece that it had commissioned with Italy's Corriere della Sera, Spain's ABC and France's Le Journal Du Dimanche.

MSN: Greek PM cannot attend EU summit due to surgery