No Love Lost

"She seems prepared to forgive [him], she doesn't want to slam the door on a whim."
"But she wants to know very quickly what Francois Hollande's intentions are."
"Naturally, she couldn't ignore the rumours that swirled around Paris in the past few weeks. She simply chose to believe they were false. For her, they have always formed a couple."
Anonymous 'Friend' of Valerie Trierweiler

French president Francois Hollande and first lady Valerie Trierweiler at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

 

A rather casual couple, as it happens,with no formality of their union. Perhaps it should be remembered that there was a previous coupledom, when this very same man was 'coupled' with Segolene Royal with whom he sired four children. With the involvement of children and a very long-term relationship, one might be forgiven for thinking that Ms. Trierweiler might have been alert to the fact that this was a man whose attention span for females has its limits.

The French see themselves as very cosmopolitan; they exchange sexual favours with hardly a thought; it is so liberating. French women who view themselves as chic beyond precious, favour themselves with a broad sense of liberalism in sexual matters. They seem to have few problems with the 'men will be boys' attitude of accepting that the wandering eye will lead to the lustful view that women are there for the taking.

Discretion, however, is key to the enterprise of successfully maintaining a mistress or revelling in infidelity on the spur of the moment. Wasn't the world scandalized and titillated with the news out of New York that a French aspirant to the presidency of France was caught in a scandal when his libido could not be denied seeing the availability of 32-year old maid Nafissatou Diallo at the Sofitel hotel. With that sexual assault Dominique Strauss-Khan ruined his chances but went on to orgies, none of which would turn a Frenchman's head.

And here we thought that Italy with its irrepressible elderly, impossibly wealthy Sylvio Berlusconi's wanton surrender to his libidinous joy in hosting debauched parties for friends and acquaintances, with models cavorting about in gay abandon and sex was freely dispensed couldn't be matched. A Prime Minister of Italy as a caddish Lothario and loving every moment of it, while denying sex (wink-wink) with underaged prostitutes.

Well certainly, what the Italians can do, the French can do better. They are more sophisticated, right? In the privacy of their boudoir Mr. Hollande and Ms. Trierweiler have some very interesting conversations to take part in, on her release from hospital due to the stress of the humiliation caused by such a very public airing of her 'partner's' excess womanizing. That's the thing when men are given power, who have a penchant for skirt-chasing (cue former President Bill Clinton), they feel even more entitlement to a perpetually open zipper.