No presidential visit for France's ailing First Lady

Concern over the well-being of Valerie Trierweiler mounted today as the official partner of President Francois Hollande remained in hospital and it emerged that he had not visited her.
Trierweiler has spent almost a week in a Paris clinic being treated for stress. She was admitted last Friday just hours after it was revealed that her partner Hollande had been having an affair with actress Julie Gayet.
Aides to France's de facto First Lady said earlier this week that she had been hospitalised for tests, adding after her stay was extended that she needed further rest.
They have since released no further details of her condition and Hollande's only comment on her health was a terse, "she's resting", during a press conference on Tuesday at which he batted away questions about the affair and its implications.

A source close to the couple told AFP that Hollande had not been to visit Trierweiler in hospital and confirmed media suggestions that the couple's relationship had been unravelling for months before the revelation of the affair.
It is not clear however if he has decided to stay away or if she is refusing to let him visit.

Citing journalist friends of Trierweiler who have been in touch with her, Europe 1 radio described the former Paris Match political reporter as being in a state of nervous exhaustion characterised by extreme mood swings.
The usually reliable station also reported that she was preoccupied with the idea that "enemies" at the presidential Elysee Palace must have conspired to ensure Hollande's affair became public with the aim of forcing her out.

A number of media reports have cited Elysee aides as hinting that they believe her hospitalisation amounts to "emotional blackmail" designed to prevent Hollande from dumping her.
Paris Match still employs Trierweiler although she put her political reporting career on hold after Hollande took office in 2012, switching instead to a regular literary column.