Hollande dodges question about alleged affair

France's President, Francois Hollande, has dodged a question about his alleged affair at his first public appearance since the claim emerged.

Mr Hollande’s partner, journalist Valerie Trierweiler, has been in hospital since Friday, when the magazine Closer published photos it said proved Mr Hollande’s liaison with French actress Julie Gayet. The report has heaped new pressure on the already unpopular president.

He has threatened to sue 'Closer' over the article.

The French President said his “indignation is total” over a tabloid report that he is having a secret affair, saying it violates his privacy.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hollande was asked whether his partner, Valerie Trierweiler, was still France's First Lady.

Valerie Trierweiler was hospitalised on Friday after a magazine published an item about the President's affair with an actress.

President Hollande had been outlining plans for economic recovery - but faced a number of questions about his personal life.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Hollande said the matter was not up for discussion today.

Mr Hollande told the news conference that “my indignation is total” and the report is a “violation that touches a personal liberty”.

He did not say whether the report is true.

He was facing the media for the first time since news of his alleged affair became public.

It came as a new poll suggests three-quarters of voters already think he is doing a lousy job of running the world’s No 5 economy.

Mr Hollande is a lifelong bachelor, though he has four children with former presidential candidate Segolene Royal. He and Ms Trierweiler have lived together since 2007, and while they are not married, Ms Trierweiler occupies the so-called “madame wing” of the presidential palace, travels abroad with Mr Hollande and functions as the first lady.

The French public initially shrugged off talk about the secret affair as Mr Hollande’s private business. But pollsters said yesterday that Ms Trierweiler’s hospital stay renders the scandal more serious, and is likely to damage Mr Hollande’s already-record-low popularity ratings.