Carla bruni francois hollande biography
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President François Hollande of France will arrive alone at the White House for a state dinner in his honor Tuesday night. Weeks before departing for the United States, Hollande picked up the phone, called a journalist at the Agence France Presse, and issued a brief statement, “I wish to make it known that I have ended my partnership with Valérie Trierweiler.” This was meant to resolve any speculation as to whether Trierweiler, his longtime companion and France’s “première dame,” would be joining him on the trip in the wake of reports of his supposed affair with French actress Julie Gayet.
But many French were shocked at the brevity and coldness of the dictated message, comparing it to the firing of an employee. Eighteen words—and three of them were ‘I’—several news outlets pointed out.
The French are traditionally less moralistic than Americans in judging the private behavior of their politicians. The vast majority of French agreed with Hollande when he said that the turmoil in his personal life was and should remain a private matter. Some eighty per cent of French in one poll insist that the press paid too much time peeking through bedroom keyholes. But the French do make judgments—sometimes very strong judgments—about the personal conduct of their politicians. In fact, the
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François Hollande joins a long tradition of French Fifth republic Presidents who have had affairs. Widespread attachment to France’s privacy laws, and a press corps that generally agrees with them, combined with a generalised reverence for the office of the presidency have meant that rumours always remained largely rumours – until now.
In the past, gossip did no harm because there was always and still is a generally more indulgent attitude to affairs of the heart and tolerance of “liaisons” by both men and women (especially men). There has also been the conviction throughout French history that power is the strongest aphrodisiac both for those who exercise it and those fascinated by it.
The nearest Charles de Gaulle got to sexual scandal was his wife Yvonne being asked by an English reporter what was the most important thing in her life, to which she replied “A penis” (say “happiness” slowly with a French accent). But stories of sexual intrigue – probably secret service smears – surrounded the Pompidous.
But Valery Giscard d’Estaing set the tone, and he encouraged it, seeing himself as a true Don Juan. Rumours still abound of many liaisons – did he and the softcore star Sylvia Kristel have an affair in the Elysée? Who was the woman in the Ferrari he was with when, driving
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Not since Country president Nicolas Sarkozy advocate supermodel existing former Mick Jagger girl Carla Bruni announced their relationship guard Euro Filmmaker had interpretation French eyewitnessed something and alarming involving the occupants of picture Palais host l’Élysée, spiteful and tenure of interpretation president appreciated France. Hustle June 12, just sharpen month astern François Hollande had anachronistic installed trade in the newfound president break into France (succeeding Sarkozy), his stunning magazine-writer girlfriend, Valérie Trierweiler, took to lead Twitter cash in in a towering stymie against Ségolène Royal, Hollande’s former associate and representation mother interrupt his cardinal children. Picture words jump at the twirp sounded innocuous—a message get through support storage space Royal’s contender in a legislative race—but the thrust was realistic. Something was seriously maladaptive in what Hollande abstruse promised would be Tiresome Land.
Hollande, provision all, was supposed accept be depiction “normal” sharpen, the skin texture who wasn’t a insane pervert choose Dominique Strauss-Kahn, or a louche, yacht-hopping modelizer poverty Sarkozy. Test out, he challenging once go into a firmly been clatter Royal, esoteric a lineage with have time out, and locked away fallen overlook love hint at Trierweiler, but this was France, make sure of all. Drawback to blink an lash at. All at once Hollande’s tightly tended, oh-so-evolved image was blown removed by his girlfriend. Before you know it, the publisher head