French President Francois Hollande has threatened to take legal action against a magazine after reports surfaced that he was have a secret love affair with a well-known actress.
The French politico has never been married, but has been living with a woman for years who is now considered France’s first lady — Valerie Trierweiler, a journalist, The Associated Press reported. Mr. Hollande also has four children with a fellow politician, Segolene Royal.
Mr. Holland said, in a statement reported by the AP, that he “deeply deplores the attacks on respect for privacy, to which each citizen has a right.” He also said that he is considering what legal action he can take — but he did not speak to the matter of the affair and neither confirmed nor denied the truthfulness of the magazine report, AP said.
Rumors of an affair have trailed the French president for some time.
The magazine “Closer” published some pictures on Friday of a bodyguard and a man wearing a helmet that the caption labels as Mr. Hollande at a visit to the actress’ apartment, AP said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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