Trierweiler in hospital with 'the blues' over Hollande 'affair'
French president faces questions about First Lady's status following claims of alleged affair with actress
THE French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler has spent the weekend in hospital with a "severe case of the blues" following reports of President Francois Hollande's alleged affair.
France's Closer magazine claimed on Friday that Hollande had repeatedly spent the night at a Paris flat with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet.
The Elysée Palace has since revealed that Trierweiler, 49, was taken to a Paris hospital after hearing the allegations and is expected to stay there until today. She is said to have gone into hospital to "get some rest and have some tests done".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hollande, 59, has threatened to sue Closer magazine for breach of privacy but has not denied the affair.
"What began as a severe embarrassment for President Hollande is turning into a double, personal and political, crisis," says The Independent.
The president had planned to hold a press conference tomorrow to unveil details of a promised "acceleration" towards a more market-oriented economic policy. But this risks "falling flat on its face" unless Hollande can find a way to defuse "potentially explosive questions" about his alleged affair, says the newspaper.
Hollande will respond to such questions tomorrow "if he is asked", Elysée sources said.
As Trierweiler – sometimes dubbed France's "First Girlfriend" – is not married to Hollande, questions are likely to be asked about her status. The couple are due to visit Barack and Michelle Obama in Washington next month, but until Hollande chooses between his mistress and girlfriend any appearance of Trierweiler by his side "will appear hypocritical", a friend of the president told Le Monde.
Hollande left Ségolène Royal, the mother of his four children and fellow Socialist politician, in 2007 for Trierweiler, a journalist for the celebrity magazine Paris Match.
Royal yesterday refused to comment on the alleged affair, saying she did not want to fuel the debate on "a soap opera that is very far from the concerns of the French".
She told France 2 television: "We must turn the page and get back to work."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Saint Paul de Vence: a paradise for art lovers
The Week Recommends The hilltop gem in the French Riviera where 20th century modernism flourished
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
'People in general want workers to earn a decent living'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published