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 said his privacy had been invaded. | |
His partner Valerie Trierweiler is in hospital suffering from "shock" over the revelations, her aides say. | |
She was admitted on Friday and is expected to remain in hospital for a few days. | |
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. | |
Mr Hollande is expected to outline ideas to combat unemployment - a key pledge in his campaign. | |
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. |
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. | |
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. |
Axelle Lemaire, an MP from Mr Hollande's Socialist party, told the BBC she did not want to see "politics run by celebrity magazines". | |
"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. |
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." | |
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. |