Hollande urged to clear air as firstlady leaves clinic

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.

First lady Valerie Trierweiler left the Paris hospital, where she was admitted suffering from nervous exhaustion and low blood pressure, for a presidential residence in Versailles, a source in her office said. In her first public comments since the scandal over Hollande’s affair broke, Trierweiler tweeted her thanks to her supporters.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those who sent messages of support . . . very touched,” she wrote, using her personal and not her official Twitter account.

Merci du fond du cœur à tous ceux qui ont envoyé des messages de soutien et de rétablissement via twitter, SMS ou courriels. Très touchée.

— Valerie Trierweiler (@valtrier) January 18, 2014

Concern had been mounting for Trierweiler, 48, after she fell ill following the revelation that Hollande, 59, had been having an affair with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet.

Paris Match magazine, Trierweiler’s employer, said on Friday that her family was “worried” after her 16-year-old son, Leonard, was unable to visit and she did not take calls.

But he was reunited with his mother after she left hospital, tweeting, “finally with my mother! I am happy to be back with her”.

Enfin avec ma mère! je suis content de l'avoir retrouvée. elle a quitté l'hôpital cet aprem comme l'ont déjà déclaré plusieurs sources .

— Léonard Trierweiler (@trierweiler3) January 18, 2014

In a report, the magazine said the first lady had seen “almost no one” during her stay at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital. There, she built up her strength eating jambon-coquillettes — a hearty dish of macaroni cheese with ham — a change from the dainty nouvelle cuisine at the presidential palace.

Hollande, who did not visit Trierweiler in hospital until Thursday and has dodged questions regarding the couple’s future, was on a visit to his political stronghold of Correze in central France.

In a speech in the town of Tulle he did not comment on the revelations, focusing instead on local issues. But even longtime allies were saying the president needed to deal with the scandal.

“France’s political situation requires all of the president’s attention and all of his time, so obviously it would be best for everyone if he can resolve the problems in his personal life under good conditions,” said Tulle Mayor Bernard Combes, a member of Hollande’s Socialist party.

At restaurant La Taverne du Sommelier, where Hollande has a permanent table, owner Cecile At said the president needed to put the scandal behind him.

“The time has come for our president to make decisions on his personal life and for the debate to be closed — that there be no more rumours or photos.”

Hollande has said he will clarify his relationship with Trierweiler before a trip to Washington next month.

Hollande’s failure to visit his partner in hospital until Thursday fuelled speculation he has decided to end the relationship with Trierweiler, for whom he left Segolene Royal, the mother of his four children, in 2005.

In a follow-up story, Closer depicted his romance with Gayet as more than a brief fling, saying it had possibly started “two years ago”.