The private life of French President Francois Hollande has become public and rather messy.  His partner and de facto “First Lady” Valerie Trierweiler has checked into hospital after reports of Hollande’s alleged affair with another woman, adding scandal to a busy schedule.

48-year old Trierweiler reportedly sought help for an emotional shock (or something else that poor people don’t get to be hospitalized for), although officials aren’t confirming the reason.  It comes after the Friday print edition of the weekly tabloid Closer featured a seven page report of Hollande’s alleged affair with 41-year old actress Julie Gayet.  Hollande has threatened to sue the magazine, but did not deny the report.

Even though the French are famously nonchalant about political sex scandals, this one might be different.  Hollande is unpopular, the most unpopular in a generation.  A poll taken before the scandal showed that only 15 percent of the French people trust him.  And on Tuesday, he was supposed lay out his vision for France in a bi-yearly news conference.  Good luck with that.

“This will prevent him from laying out his economic and social program to the media,” said L’Express chief editor Christophe Barbier.  “He will be inaudible.”