Segolene Royal and Francois Hollande divorce French style

Well, so much for the reputed quizzical insouciance of the French when it comes to marital (or, more notably, extramarital) affairs. Because today every French newspaper is emblazoned with headlines about the intriguing split between Segolene Royal, the Socialist candidate I endorsed here in last month’s French presidential election, and Francois Hollande, the leader of the Socialist Party:

Séparation Royal-Hollande: les réactions [L’Express.fr]

Ségolène Royal annonce sa séparation d’avec François Hollande [Le Monde.fr]

Royal et Hollande devront trouver un mode de vie politique [Le Figaro]

Incidentally, these two have been “partners” forever (30 years) and have four children, but never bothered to marry….

Admittedly, I can’t even speak French, let alone relate to Les Liaisons Dangereuses that seem to characterize love French style. (Royal claims that she ended their relationship because Hollande was having an affair with journalist Valerie Trierweiler. Never mind reports that she has been a consenting, though frigid, party to this ménage a trois for years.) But what intrigues me about this split is not the announcement of it, which reportedly overshadowed the respectable showing the Socialists made against French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s center-right party in Sunday’s elections for the National Assembly.

(Although it is somewhat curious that Royal and Hollande issued separate statements about the end of their affair almost simultaneously on Sunday afternoon. And it is patently clear that France’s more staid newspapers are using the timing of their statements merely as a pretext to peddle tabloid fodder about their sex lives.)

Instead, I’m intrigued by the apparent fact that Royal’s resounding defeat by Sarkozy to become president of France precipitated not only the dissolution of her and Hollande’s personal relationship but also the termination of their political partnership.

Moreover, as if this split were not already sensational enough, the French are salivating with prurient anticipation now that Royal has declared her (woman-scorned) intent to challenge Hollande for leadership of the Socialist Party – a position he has held like political Svengali for 10 years.

All couples have their difficulties, and we have had ours. And now we are moving on to a new phase. [Segolene Royal]

C’est la vie….Game on!!!

Meanwhile, this Royal-Hollande scandal should help puritanical Americans put their moral indignation over Bill and Hillary’s mercenary and (seemingly) loveless marriage into context….

It’s worth noting, however, that if Hillary loses the US presidential election next year, I suspect this would also trigger not only the dissolution of their marriage but also the termination of their political partnership; and, perhaps, in even more precipitous and salacious fashion….

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Segolene Royal, Francois Hollande