French President Francois Hollande holds a rare and eagerly awaited press conference later today.
As he battles party rebellion, an emergency cabinet reshuffle, record high unemployment and record unpopularity,.But perhaps the most painful blow was the revelations of a woman scorned, as his former partner Valerie Trierweiler painted him as a cold and power-crazed leader who secretly hates the poor in a best-selling kiss-and-tell.
However, Hollande does have some good news to cling onto after his government won a crucial vote of confidence in the parliament on Tuesday — albeit narrowly.
Manuel Valls, the previously popular prime minister who has been dragged down in Hollande´s wake, described the vote as a “turning point” and the news conference is the next stage of that process.
Hollande will make a brief statement at 5:00 pm.
The subjects are likely to range from France´s engagement in Iraq to the dire state of the economy to the president´s love life.
