Pave: Election Heartbreaks II

Le jour 34 de Sarko

Oh, we are a long way from the summer of love and bikinitude, of hinted nuptials, and of the headline romance of co-progenitors Dutch ("I Am Living A Tragedy") and Ségo (First-woman-ever-within-six-points-of-the-Élysée™).

FRANCE'S SEGOLENE ROYAL LOSES MORE THAN ELECTION

PARIS June 17, 2007 (G&M) - France's Segolene Royal is separating from her partner, Socialist party leader François Hollande, French media said, in an announcement that partially overshadowed Sunday's parliamentary elections.

... During the election campaign, the two Socialists, who have four children but never married, frequently denied rumours they were splitting up and Ms. Royal said earlier this year she had wanted a romantic wedding with Mr. Hollande in 2006.

FRANCE'S ROYAL SPLITS FROM PARTNER

PARIS June 18, 2007 (Daily Telegraph) - Defeated French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has split from her partner, party leader Francois Hollande, accusing him in a new book of having an affair.

"I have asked Francois Hollande to leave our home, to pursue his love interest which is now laid out in books and newspapers, and I wish him happiness," Ms Royal said in an interview for the book [Les Coulisses d'une Defaite, Behind the Scenes of Defeat] to be published on Thursday.

It seems unnaturally gracious -- or politically specious -- that Ségo should wish Dutch "happiness" in the fruition of an infidelity that has put the lie to their 25-year relationship.

Ms Royal did not name the other woman in Mr Hollande's life but said she and the Socialist leader "remain on good terms".

"We talk to each other. There is mutual respect."

... In the book, Ms Royal confirmed that she will be a candidate to replace Mr Hollande as Socialist Party leader.

We hazard that if there were "mutual respect" Dutch wouldn't cheat and Ségo would announce a leadership bid through party channels instead of breezy comments in a publicity interview. But we are old-fashioned about these things.

« ON COMPATIT CAR IL N'Y A PAS DE DIVORCE HEUREUX »
["ONE SYMPATHIZES BECAUSE NO DIVORCE IS HAPPY"]

18 juin 2007 (20minutes.fr) - «Pas de commentaires!» Les socialistes interrogés sur l’annonce, dimanche soir en pleine soirée électorale, de la séparation entre Ségolène Royal et François Hollande ont fait preuve d’une grande prudence. Tout en se déclarant «favorable à ce que Ségolène Royal prenne des responsabilités» à la tête du PS, Jean-Marc Ayrault a refusé de commenter la séparation du couple, «une annonce qui relève de la vie privée».

«C'est une décision privée, nous nous situons sur les questions de fond», a estimé Laurent Fabius, préférant parler du résultat des élections. Même réflexe pour Jean-Luc Mélenchon. «Ce n'est pas des façons de faire, y compris pour notre Premier secrétaire (François Hollande). Ce soir, il y a d'autres choses dont il faut parler que de cela. Cette annonce contrarie la clarification du résultat de ce soir». Jean-Luc Mélenchon a tout de même compati «car il n'y a pas de divorce heureux».

... De son côté, Eric Besson, qui s’était indigné des rumeurs sur sa vie privée au moment de sa démission du PS, a commenté l’annonce.

«Je suis surpris que cette annonce puisse venir un soir de second tour des élections législatives, et j'allais dire, puisse polluer, parasiter le débat politique.»

["No comments!" With Sunday's electoral evening in full swing, Socialists showed great discretion when asked about the separation announcement between Ségolène Royal and François Holland. While declaring himself "in favor so that Ségolène Royal takes responsibilities" as the head of the PS, Jean-Marc Ayrault refused to comment on the couple's separation, "an announcement that concerns private life".

"It's a private decision, we are faced with basic problems", said Laurent Fabius, preferring to speak about the election results. A similar reaction from Jean-Luc Mélenchon, "It is not appropriate, even for our First secretary (François Holland). This evening, there are other things than that about which it is necessary to speak. This announcement opposes the meaning of this evening's result". Jean-Luc Mélenchon sympathized all the same "because no divorce is happy".

... For his part, Eric Besson, who had been indignant at the rumors about his private life at the time of his resignation from the PS, commented on the announcement.

"I am surprised that this announcement can come the evening of the legislative elections' second round, and, I was going to say, can pollute, (can) suck the life from the political debate."]

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