Three-quarters of the French already think Francois Hollande is doing a lousy job of running the world's No. And now a big policy address Tuesday is sure to be overshadowed by personal troubles so awkward that even the famously blase French can't ignore them.
His first lady, journalist Valerie Trierweiler, is hospitalized because of a tabloid report that Hollande is having an affair with a somewhat recognizable French actress. Trierweiler may remain in the hospital for six to eight days to recover from the "very strong emotional shock," her chief of staff said Monday.
Hollande is a lifelong bachelor, though he has four children with former presidential candidate Segolene Royal. He and Trierweiler have lived together since 2007, and while they're unmarried, Trierweiler occupies the so-called "madame wing" of the presidential palace, travels abroad with Hollande and functions as the first lady.
The French public initially shrugged off talk about the secret affair as Hollande's private business. But pollsters said Monday that Trierweiler's hospitalization renders the scandal more serious, and is likely to damage Hollande's already-record-low popularity ratings.
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