French president Francois Hollande will appear in public today for the first time since revelations emerged of his affair with a glamorous actress.

Mr Hollande will hold his New Year's press conference on the economy amid a media frenzy over his secret trysts with 41-year-old film star Julie Gayet.As the head of state faces journalists in Paris, his partner Valerie Trierweiler is set to remain in hospital suffering from 'shock and exhaustion' over the claims.Hollande, 59, is said to have made a full confession to his partner of six years the night before full details were published in France's Closer magazine on Friday.But mother-of-three Ms Trierweiler, 48, has told friends she is ready to forgive her boyfriend if he states both 'publicly and privately' that his affair with Ms Gayet is over.Mr Hollande has spoken only about the scandal since it was made public last Friday, to say he deplored the intrusion into his privacy.But he has hinted that he will not dodge questions about his love life when he appears in public at 4.30pm today.A source close to the president told French daily Le Figaro: 'He has said that if he is asked, he will answer.'But the newspaper added: 'This press conference could not come at a worse time for him.'He will be trying to focus the debate on his economic policies while since last Friday, it is his private life that has taken centre stage.'Despite the media attention, a recent poll found 80 per cent of French people believed Mr Hollande's love life should remain private.And 90 per cent believed France's struggling economy is the most critical issues facing the nation.Mr Hollande plans to today's event to propose a 'responsibility pact' with businesses in which firms will be offered tax cuts and less red tape in return for hiring commitments aimed at reducing 12 percent unemployment.Socialist party spokesman David Assouline said of the press conference: 'This major political event must remain a major political event.' Last night a spokesman said Miss Trierweiler,  would stay in hospital ‘for another six or eight more days’, adding that she needed rest after a ‘very strong emotional shock’.From her hospital bed, Miss Trierweiler seemed well enough to be orchestrating a campaign to win public sympathy. She let it be known that she felt she had been ‘hit by a high-speed train’ – but was ready to forgive Mr Hollande. The couple are not married but have been together for six years, making her the de facto first lady when the Socialist leader became President in 2012. The divorced magazine journalist, who still writes a column for Paris Match, has been widely criticised for her high living. She has five taxpayer-funded staff at her permanent disposal and the use of several homes, jets and limousines.Miss Trierweiler has been personally briefing French newspaper Le Parisien, which last night quoted ‘a friend’ as saying: ‘She seems ready to forgive, but she wants to know quickly what Francois Hollande’s intentions are.’Frédéric Gerschel of Le Parisien later said he had spoken directly to Miss Trierweiler. He said: ‘She has made it clear that a clarification is needed. She knows that, if she is no longer first lady she cannot continue to have an office in the Elysee and make use of state funds.’Mr Hollande has said nothing publicly – except to complain about his privacy – since French magazine Closer carried comical pictures of him sneaking in to his Paris love nest wearing a helmet after arriving by scooter.According to Le Parisien, Mr Hollande broke the news of his cheating to the first lady on Thursday afternoon.Miss Trierweiler’s friend told the paper: ‘The scene took place in the panelled rooms of Elysée Palace, without confrontation nor shouting. In a few words, the head of state admitted the existence of a liaison.‘He denied nothing. Neither the escapades on the scooter with the security officer in the middle of the night, nor the frequency of these clandestine rendezvous, nor the date that this love affair began... several months ago.’When Mr Hollande confirmed his romantic encounters, a ‘political-emotional Tsunami’ ensured, according to Le Parisien.‘Valerie took it like being hit by a high speed train,’ said a friend. ‘She was completely stunned. Of course, she’d been aware of rumours circulating around Paris for weeks. ‘She just wanted to believe it was false. For her, they are still a couple,’ added the friend, saying Ms Trierweiler and Mr Hollande spent New Year’s Eve together, and enjoyed part of Christmas with Ms Trierweiler’s family. A palace source said: ‘She didn’t believe it at first. She thought they could just get their lawyers to stop the magazine publishing the story. Then she was told it couldn’t be banned. She was upset, very upset.‘She is being humiliated, and effectively turned into a national laughing stock.’Some critics have questioned her decision to check into hospital to rest, with one source close to Mr Hollande saying she was using ‘emotional blackmail’ to keep her job.Mr Hollande is expected to comment on the affair today at a press conference that was intended to be about France’s ailing economy.It comes as recent polls suggest a total of 89 per cent of voters want Hollande to split from Miss Trierweiler.Miss Trierweiler – who is not married to Mr Hollande – has enjoyed all the perks of a presidential wife with a retinue of staff and a generous budget.Miss Trierweiler maintains her own office at the palace, costing French taxpayers a small fortune.She became Mr Hollande’s live-in girlfriend following his separation from fellow Socialist politician Segolene Royal, the mother of his four children. Mr Hollande was said to have taken her as mistress while still living with Miss Royal.The divorced magazine journalist has been widely criticised for her high living in the past.MP Jean-Christophe Lagarde said: ‘She is not the wife of the president of the Republic, she plays the role of the first lady of France, when it appears that there is another first lady. The situation needs to be clarified very rapidly.’But her place in the president’s affections appears to have been taken by Julie Gayet.It has been claimed the pair met at a £2.5million Paris love nest, registered to writer and actor Michel Ferracci.Ferracci was given an 18-month  suspended prison sentence last year for his role in a group that laundered money from a Corsican crime gang through a Paris casino.The building is a stone’s throw from the Elysee Palace, and contains apartments owned by wealthy businessmen including multi-millionaire fashion designer Pierre Cardin.Ferracci pays the local taxes on the fourth floor flat, although it is not known who owns the property.Ferracci, once a close friend and business associate of assassinated Corsican mafia boss Richard Casanova, is a former lover of the French actress Emmanuelle Hauck, who now uses the flat with their children.(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az