As if to highlight the dramatis personae that will provide palace intrigue throughout his presidency, he announced almost simultaneously that he has no intent to marry his partner Valérie — deriding marriage, in true socialist fashion, as a ‘bourgeois institution.’ No doubt this will help Ségolène get over the understandable resentment and jealousy that must… Read more.
Segolene Royal
New French President Nominates ‘First Partner’ as Speaker?
How gallant! How French! And here’s why: Every French newspaper is emblazoned with headlines about the intriguing split between Ségolène Royal, the Socialist candidate I endorsed in last month’s French presidential election, and Francois Hollande, the leader of the Socialist Party… [T]hese two have been ‘partners’ forever (30 years) and have four children, but never… Read more.
Hollande Defeats Sarkozy for President of France
Virtually every poll this year had Socialist Francois Hollande defeating conservative (incumbent) Nicolas Sarkozy. And those polls were vindicated when Hollande came out on top in the first round of elections for the Elysée two weeks ago. This is why it came as no surprise when he handily defeated Sarkozy in a runoff yesterday (52… Read more.