Francois Hollande avoids question about girlfriend's 'First Lady' status

London, July 15 (ANI): New French president Francois Hollande avoided questions about his love life with current girlfriend Valerie Trierweiler during Bastille Day celebrations.

At the ceremony, Hollande had just made his first official appearance alongside Trierweiler, 47, a journalist, since she used Twitter to support the president's former partner Segolene Royal's political opponent just days before last month's general election.

All France was agog after Royal, 58, went on to lose her parliamentary seat and with it her hopes of becoming speaker of the French National Assembly.

Last week Hollande's eldest son Thomas, 27, told a French news magazine he and his siblings wanted nothing more to do with the president's girlfriend.

But in an interview after taking the salute at the military parade the president, wearing a sombre suit and dark tie, batted off questions about the Twitter row.

"I am for a clear distinction between public and private life," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

"I believe private matters should be regulated in private and I have asked those close to me to respect this," he said.

When asked about Trierweiler's status as France's unofficial "First Lady", he said: "There is no such status. Valerie wants to keep her professional activity and I understand that. However, she will be at my side when protocol demands." (ANI)