Trierweiler in hospital for rest
The First Lady is to go home today after being hospitalised after allegations the president is having an affair
FIRST Lady Valérie Trierweiler is due to leave hospital today, after being rushed in for “rest and tests” just hours after the publication of a magazine spread about President Hollande’s alleged affair.
Ms Trierweiler went into hospital on Friday after Closer published seven pages of pictures said to show scenes of Mr Hollande visiting actress Julie Gayet at her flat by scooter.
Her office reportedly stated she will be “deciding what she wants” when she comes out. Mr Hollande has insisted on his right to a private life and has said he may sue.
The domestic turmoil comes just as Mr Hollande prepares for an important press conference tomorrow in which he is to address around 600 journalists about his plans to boost business and jobs.
With unemployment still high, Hollande is counting on a new “responsibility pact”, involving easing bureaucracy and business social charges in return for more recruitment and dialogue with unions.
The leader of the Opposition UMP Party, Jean-François Copé said Hollande’s relationship complications were “disastrous for the image of the presidency”, while Sarkozy-era minister Chantal Jouanno said Hollande would be “obliged to clarify the situation because all this has an undeniable impact on protocol”.
However the national secretary of green party EELV, Emmanuelle Cosse, stated that: “Three-quarters of French people don’t give a damn, and I’m one of them.”
An Ifop survey for Journal du Dimanche found that 84% said the matter had not affected their image of the president, 13% said it made his image worse, and 3% thought it had improved it.
Photo: Jackolan1/ Wikimedia Commons
