President François Hollande’s partner emerged from a week’s stay in hospital as the French leader faced calls to clear up his personal life after his affair with an actress was made public.

French President François Hollande faced fresh scrutiny over his affair with an actress as the magazine that broke the story published claims he started seeing her before his 2012 election.

Winning came easy but François Hollande now has to learn to govern, writes Michael Mainville

Voters across France have begun casting ballots in a presidential run-off election that polls suggest will see Socialist challenger Francois Hollande defeat incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy after just one term.

Voters were making a preliminary choice today between France’s invigorated conservatives and its squabbling leftists amid signs the apathy that helped an extremist qualify for a presidential run-off last month might be returning.