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France's Hollande bids for relaunch amid Trierweiler scandal | France's Hollande bids for relaunch amid Trierweiler scandal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
French President Francois Hollande is to hold a news conference outlining new plans for the economy, with media interest likely instead to be on recent allegations about his private life. | French President Francois Hollande is to hold a news conference outlining new plans for the economy, with media interest likely instead to be on recent allegations about his private life. |
Last week, the magazine Closer alleged Mr Hollande was having an affair with film actress Julie Gayet. | |
Mr Hollande did not deny the report but protested at invasion of his privacy. | Mr Hollande did not deny the report but protested at invasion of his privacy. |
His partner Valerie Trierweiler remains in hospital after having been admitted on Friday. | His partner Valerie Trierweiler remains in hospital after having been admitted on Friday. |
Her aides told French media that she had suffered "shock" after seeing the revelations. | Her aides told French media that she had suffered "shock" after seeing the revelations. |
She had been expected to leave hospital on Monday, but her aides said doctors had told her she needed more rest. | She had been expected to leave hospital on Monday, but her aides said doctors had told her she needed more rest. |
Tuesday's press conference, scheduled for 16:30 (15:30 GMT), is a long-planned event aimed at unveiling new policies to help France's struggling economy. | Tuesday's press conference, scheduled for 16:30 (15:30 GMT), is a long-planned event aimed at unveiling new policies to help France's struggling economy. |
Mr Hollande is expected to outline ideas to stimulate growth and combat record high unemployment. | Mr Hollande is expected to outline ideas to stimulate growth and combat record high unemployment. |
More details will be given on a proposed "responsibility pact", which would introduce tax cuts for firms in return for a commitment to hire more workers. | |
There is a public aspect to the allegations by Closer insofar as they touch on whether or not Ms Trierweiler is still first lady. | |
She has an office in the Elysee Palace with six staff - popularly known as "Madame's domain" - which is supported by public money. | |
However, Tuesday's news conference is likely to be highly stage-managed, the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris reports. | |
While there may be one or two questions about the president's private life, Mr Hollande is likely to have a prepared response and the conference will quickly move on to the economy, our correspondent says. | |
The foreign press will likely be much more interested in the affair than their domestic counterparts, he adds. | |
'Recovering from shock' | 'Recovering from shock' |
He has not denied the report in Closer but has protested at the invasion of his privacy. | He has not denied the report in Closer but has protested at the invasion of his privacy. |
The president and Ms Trierweiler have been together since 2007. | The president and Ms Trierweiler have been together since 2007. |
She lives with the president in his official residence, the Elysee Palace. | She lives with the president in his official residence, the Elysee Palace. |
Ms Trierweiler's aides said she went to hospital on Friday for "rest and some tests". | Ms Trierweiler's aides said she went to hospital on Friday for "rest and some tests". |
On Monday, an aide told Europe 1 broadcaster: "The doctors will determine when she can be dismissed from hospital. She needs to recover from the shock she has suffered." | On Monday, an aide told Europe 1 broadcaster: "The doctors will determine when she can be dismissed from hospital. She needs to recover from the shock she has suffered." |
The French media face strict privacy laws, but the tradition of secrecy over the private lives of public figures has been steadily eroded in recent years. | The French media face strict privacy laws, but the tradition of secrecy over the private lives of public figures has been steadily eroded in recent years. |
On Friday, Closer printed a seven-page article about the alleged affair between Mr Hollande and Ms Gayet. | On Friday, Closer printed a seven-page article about the alleged affair between Mr Hollande and Ms Gayet. |
It was illustrated with photos showing a man said to be the president visiting a flat near the Elysee Palace at the same time as Ms Gayet. | It was illustrated with photos showing a man said to be the president visiting a flat near the Elysee Palace at the same time as Ms Gayet. |
Mr Hollande, who has never married, left his previous partner, fellow Socialist politician Segolene Royal, to be with Ms Trierweiler. | Mr Hollande, who has never married, left his previous partner, fellow Socialist politician Segolene Royal, to be with Ms Trierweiler. |
The scandal comes at a difficult time for Mr Hollande, with opinion polls already suggesting he is one of the most unpopular French presidents ever. | The scandal comes at a difficult time for Mr Hollande, with opinion polls already suggesting he is one of the most unpopular French presidents ever. |