Feminists' fury over Sarkozy's depiction of pregnant Marianne

London, February 22 (ANI): Nicholas Sarkozy has left the country's feminists reeling over the depiction of Marianne, the personification of the French Republic since the 19th century, in a government advertisement.

Critics have slammed the French President's government for using a photograph of an expectant mother, in the image of Marianne, to advertise a 31 billion pound loan that officials hope would help boost investment and stimulate growth.

Detractors claimed the image undermined women's liberation by reducing them to the role of motherhood, reports Times Online.

Le Fiminin l'Emporte, one of France's most influential feminist blogs, said: "The hand of the state should not be in my uterus, and certainly not to look for money."

Olympe, another feminist blog, accused the country's government of "suggesting that a woman's work is to have babies whilst the men handle the billions from the loan".

Thierry Saussez, Sarkozy's director of communications, on the other hand, explained: "As we are talking about investments in the future, we naturally had the idea of taking this symbol of maternity."

Jean-Marc Huleux, the vice-chairman of Euro RSCG C andO, the advertising firm that produced the campaign, added: "The crystal pureness represents this beautiful moment of motherhood which enshrines the full potential of the big loans." (ANI)