French Magazine Claims Hollande's Affair Lasted Two Years

The allegations come one week after the magazine originally published photos of what it said was Hollande in a motorcyclist's helmet visiting actress Julie Gayet for nocturnal trysts. Closer now claims their romance began during the 2012 presidential race.Newspaper vendor Jacques in Paris told Reuters Television copies of Closer were flying off the shelves.

"Almost the same as last week, that is as I opened I sold four of five of them and one hour later there's one left," he said.

While French newspapers appear to be less concerned about Hollande's private life than foreign media, Benoit Faure said French people had a right to know about their leader's life behind closed doors.

"He's a public man, that's nonsense, no, it's not his private life, it matters to the French and to the people in France to know what goes on and how he directs his life," he said.

Ludivine Ormazala said it was unsurprising the allegations continued to hit the headlines.

"Right now he represents France, it's normal that it's a controversy. If it was another man it would have gone by unnoticed but he's the president of the Republic," she said.

Hollande's alleged scooter trips to visit Gayet have prompted the creation of a video game parody. Users take the form of Hollande on a scooter as he dodges paparazzi, his former partner Segolene Royal and his current partner Valerie Trierweiler to get to Gayet.

Trierweiler has been in hospital since last Friday after learning of the affair. Her spokesman said she needed "rest".

When questioned by the world's media on Tuesday Hollande refused to discuss his personal life but said he would clarify the status of France's first lady before a visit to the United States next month.