Affair allegations threaten to overshadow Hollande's New Year's address
- 10 years ago
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~****~
French President Francois Hollande and Valerie Trierweiler in happier times.
Now the French President who failed to keep a promise to the nation to halt rising unemployment is dealing with media allegations of a secret love affair.
On Friday, a celebrity magazine purportedly showed pictures of a night time visit by Hollande to a mistress. Those allegations risk stealing the show Tuesday, when he delivers the traditional start-of-year news conference.
Hollande's office complained of a breach of privacy but issued no denial. His official partner, Trierweiler, was hospitalized hours after the magazine hit news-stands. Her spokesman said she needed quote: "rest."
(SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN WOMAN, NADEGE, SAYING:
"No because my opinion is very negative in terms of who he is and what he does. But that for me is his personal business and what matters to me is what he does to France. After that his private life - what does i
French President Francois Hollande and Valerie Trierweiler in happier times.
Now the French President who failed to keep a promise to the nation to halt rising unemployment is dealing with media allegations of a secret love affair.
On Friday, a celebrity magazine purportedly showed pictures of a night time visit by Hollande to a mistress. Those allegations risk stealing the show Tuesday, when he delivers the traditional start-of-year news conference.
Hollande's office complained of a breach of privacy but issued no denial. His official partner, Trierweiler, was hospitalized hours after the magazine hit news-stands. Her spokesman said she needed quote: "rest."
(SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN WOMAN, NADEGE, SAYING:
"No because my opinion is very negative in terms of who he is and what he does. But that for me is his personal business and what matters to me is what he does to France. After that his private life - what does i