FRANCE: French President Francois Hollande says personal affairs must be dealt with in private but that he will respond to a question on the status of his partner Valerie Trierweiler before a planned visit to Washington in February

Record ID: 572285

  • Title: FRANCE: French President Francois Hollande says personal affairs must be dealt with in private but that he will respond to a question on the status of his partner Valerie Trierweiler before a planned visit to Washington in February
  • Date: 14th January 2014
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ELYSEE PALACE
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEP3K84JPTDR7MKVUZFO0UL0
  • Story Text: French President Francois Hollande, under fire over an alleged affair with an actress, refused on Tuesday (January 14) to discuss his personal life but said he would clarify the status of France's first lady before a visit to the United States next month.
    His official partner, Valerie Trierweiler, has been in hospital since last Friday after a celebrity magazine published photos of what it said was Hollande in a motorcyclist's helmet visiting actress Julie Gayet for nocturnal trysts.
    "Everyone in their personal life can face trials. That's our case. These are painful moments. But I have one principle, and that is that personal affairs should be treated privately, respecting each person's intimacy," Hollande told a news conference.
    "So this is neither the place nor the moment to (discuss) that. But I have one principle, and that is that personal affairs should be treated privately, respecting each person's intimacy. So this is neither the place nor the moment to (discuss) that. But, even if I do not respond to any question on that topic today, I will do so before the visit you have talked about," Hollande said.
    Hollande also said, at his yearly address to the media, he would cut public spending by 50 billion euros ($68.27 billion) in 2015-17, equivalent to a four percent reduction in outlays by national and local authorities.
    "I remind you that in 2014, this year, we will save 15 billion. So what is left for us to do? Between 2015 to 2017 we should unblock 50 billion more. That is a lot and this has never been done before," he said.
    The savings would be achieved by a thorough review of all public spending and making local authorities work more closely and efficiently together while preserving France's social model, he said.
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