France’s first lady’s hospital stay to be extended
Print Edition
A top aide to France’s first lady says she will remain hospitalized for several more days to recover from the shock of a tabloid report that President Francois Hollande is having a secret affair with an actress.
The scandal is overshadowing a major public appearance by Hollande expected today.
And pollsters say it is likely to further damage his record-low popularity ratings.
Valerie Trierweiler’s chief of staff, Patrice Biancone, said yesterday she could be hospitalized for another six or eight more days. She was initially expected to leave hospital yesterday.
He said she suffered a “very strong emotional shock” from the tabloid report and needs rest.
News of Trierweiler’s condition came as Hollande came under mounting pressure to clear up the confusion created by the latest developments in his complicated love life.
The Socialist leader had hoped to ride out the storm created by last week’s revelation of an alleged affair with Julie Gayet, an actress 18 years his junior.
But any chance of that was shattered on Sunday when it emerged that Trierweiler, 48, Hollande’s companion of several years, had been hospitalized.
Symptoms developed within hours of glossy magazine Closer publishing details of 59-year-old Hollande’s alleged secret trysts with Gayet, 41, in a borrowed apartment close to his official residence, the Elysee Palace.
Before news broke that Trierweiler would be spending longer in hospital, friends of the president advised him to move quickly to put an end to the speculation over their future.
“He has to clarify the situation,” said Thierry Mandon, the spokesman for the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group.
“He must clear up his personal situation so that we can address the serious issues we face.”
At first it looked like Hollande would be allowed to resolve his personal dilemma behind closed doors. But the fact that Trierweiler is effectively a public figure has made her future a legitimate news story.
Hollande is due to appear at a New Year’s press conference today. It was meant to be devoted to plans for the year but looks certain to be overshadowed by his personal problems.
Twice-divorced Trierweiler has officially been Hollande’s partner since 2007, when he left Segolene Royal, a fellow heavyweight in the Socialist Party and the mother of his four children.
Trierweiler put her career as a journalist on hold after Hollande’s 2012 election.
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