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Download French President Francois Hollande defiantly batted away questions on Tuesday over the future of Valerie Trierweiler and his alleged affair with a French actress, vowing to deal with the problems in his personal life in private. Looking stiff and stressed at a news conference, he admitted the couple were going through "painful moments" and indicated that the status of his long-term girlfriend would be clarified before a scheduled trip to the United States next month. Trierweiler, France's de facto first lady, has been invited to accompany Hollande on an official visit including an overnight stay at the White House. She has been in the hospital since Friday with stress linked to last week's revelation that Hollande, 59, has been having a secret liaison with Julie Gayet, 41. Asked directly if Trierweiler was still France's first lady, Hollande insisted on the troubled couple's right to privacy. "I understand your question and I'm sure you will understand my response," he said. "Everyone in their personal lives can go through tough times. That is the case (for me). These are painful moments. "But I have one principle: these private affairs are dealt with in private. This is neither the time nor the place to do it, so I will not be responding to any questions about my private life." The instruction did the trick, and Hollande visibly relaxed as it became apparent he was not going to be given the kind of grilling a leader in Britain or the United States could have expected in similar circumstances. | 
