This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25724437

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
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.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 said his privacy had been invaded.
His partner Valerie Trierweiler remains in hospital after having been admitted on Friday. His partner Valerie Trierweiler is in hospital suffering from "shock" over the revelations, her aides say.
Her aides told French media that she had suffered "shock" after seeing the revelations. She was admitted on Friday and is expected to remain in hospital for a few days.
She had been expected to leave hospital on Monday, but her aides said doctors had told her she needed more rest. Tuesday's news conference, scheduled for 16:30 (15:30 GMT), is a long-planned event aimed at unveiling 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 combat unemployment - a key pledge in his campaign.
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.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. The French economy shrank in the third quarter of last year, reflecting a period of low growth as well as two recessions in the past five years.
She has an office in the Elysee Palace with six staff - popularly known as "Madame's domain" - which is supported by public money. Figures from October showed that 3.27 million people were out of work - 10.3% of the workforce.
That represented a sharp rise from August 2012, when unemployment went over three million.
'Recovering from shock'
There is a public interest in the infidelity allegations by Closer where they relate to Ms Trierweiler's status as first lady.
She has an office in the Elysee Palace with six staff, 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.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.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.The foreign press will likely be much more interested in the affair than their domestic counterparts, he adds.
'Recovering from shock' Axelle Lemaire, an MP from Mr Hollande's Socialist party, told the BBC she did not want to see "politics run by celebrity magazines".
He has not denied the report in Closer but has protested at the invasion of his privacy. "I'm sorry to say I think this is a very British way of seeing things. What is important is the announcement he's going to make this afternoon... [concerning] the economy, investment, the fight against unemployment."
However, sales of the issue of Closer containing the allegations were 50% higher than normal, according to the magazine's publishers.
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. On Monday, one of her aides told Europe 1 radio: "The doctors will determine when she can be dismissed from hospital. She needs to recover from the shock she has suffered."
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."
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.