I just learned, via this news story, that Francois Hollande has a ‘partner’ rather than a wife.
His previous ‘partner’ and mother of his children was the Socialist candidate in the last election, and has been promised a plum position.
He swapped her for a younger woman.
Then she tried to stop him becoming president of France.
But Francois Hollande is on course to make former partner Segolene Royal the most powerful female politician in the country, despite the bitterness of their separation after 30 years and four children together.
[...]
Miss Royal, 58, has indicated that she will become president of the National Assembly – France’s parliament – when Mr Hollande announces his cabinet after his inauguration next week. The job is considered the most prestigious in France after president and prime minister.
[...]
Miss Royal met Mr Hollande when they were both studying at ENA, the prestigious graduate school for France’s future administrators.
Despite their long relationship and the children they had together they never wed because both believe that marriage is a ‘bourgeois institution’.
They officially split in 2007, although Mr Hollande’s affair with Miss Trierweiler is known to have started long before.
The French are different…
