The Sarkozys have separated -- say French media

It is hard not to feel sorry for Nicolas Sarkozy this week. France was kicked out of the rugby world cup on Saturday. Tonight, public sector workers start paralysing the country with a one-day strike against the president's plan to abolish some of their privileges.  And now we hear that Sarko and Cécilia have finally made their separation formal in front of a judge.

According to the website of le Nouvel Observateur, a reliable news magazine, the Sarkozys went to a judge on Monday to register their split. LCI, the main cable news channel, gave a different version. Only Mrs Sarkozy, 49, went to a judge and signed a request to start divorce proceedings, they say. Once again, the Elysée Palace is neither confirming nor denying the reports. They cannot continue to do so for long, given that the rumours of separation of the past couple of weeks now appear to have been well-founded.

A question now arises. How can the Sarkozys engage in divorce or legal separation since the president's immunity means that he cannot be the object of any civil or criminal proceedings while in office? It's also not clear why they would have appeared before a judge at this stage. Requests for legal separation or the start of divorce are handled by lawyers. In French divorces by mutual consent, only one appearance before a judge (in private) is necessary and that cames months after the suit is filed and the details settled. It is unlikely that the details of the Sarkozy separation or eventual divorce will ever be made public. [A good discussion of the legal aspects can be found on Rue89, the excellent news website. The photo above comes from them].

The separation of the turbulent Sarkozy couple is no surprise. Apart from her mission to Libya for the Bulgarian nurses in mid-July, Cécilia has taken part in no official activity since Bastille Day, July 14. She was visibly unhappy in just about all her appearances with Sarko after his election in May.

Sarkozy will be the object of sympathy and the celebrity press will now search flat out for any new partner. Sarko himself seems to be in fairly good spirits. He marked France's ejection from the rugby on Saturday night by holding a party with his show-biz friends at Rebellato, an Italian restaurant in the XVI arrondissement. According to le Canard Enchaîné today, Sarko entertained the party by joining Johnny Hallyday in a rendition of Tennessee, one of the great French rocker's oldest hits. Sarko was in fine mood when I spent a late-night hour with him, along with French reporters, in a Moscow hotel last week.
 

Comments

[Maggie G]

They were just talking about it on the radio, and wondering if they got back together (after Cecelia's stay in New York) just as a deal to get him past the election (on the assumption that the French public would not elect him if he were recently divorced).

In other words, they maybe pulled the same stunt as Ségolène Royal and François Hollande, staying together just for the sake of the election.

So maybe no matter who won the election, we would have had a post-election divorce / separation.

Could this be the start of a new trend?

[Daisy]

Why anyone would sympathise with or feel sorry for that little creep is beyond me. But it seems that only one teeny tiny "late night hour with him" (along with other reporters, of course) was enough to make our dear Mr. B fall into line along with all the other shoe shining french journalists (just when I was starting to like him). Heaven's help us if Mr. Bremer is ever given a whole hour alone with Sarko.

[Thanks Daisy. I have had a whole hour along with Sarko in the past and watched him close up a lot over the past year. My view of Sarko hasn't changed much. CB]

[richard jones]

Now Maggie are you postulating that the potential election of Hilarious Clinton will mean divorce from William Jefferson??????

[Valentin]

"My view of Sarko hasn't changed much. CB"

Would it be possible that you elaborate on that, please, CB? :) I don't think you ever told us in plain speech your personal feeling. We need to classify you pro or anti Sarko !
[Neither pro nor contra, Valentin. There's not enough space here to expand. I'll do it in a post. Briefly, Sarko is infuriating, smug, a bit of a bully and a show off. But he is also impressively sharp-witted and direct and has a sympathique side, as Yasmina Reza's book made clear. CB]

[Liz]

Who gives a damn, the French are really no cocern of mine.

[Lilly]

Aha – So the news is news now.

My sympathy with either of them stays within limits. Neither of the two seems like the altruistic lovingly devote partner to the other. It is tragic anyway because their separation has a message: The President tries to tackle France’s problems while finding surprising solutions to his own private problems. A separation is not uncommon or surprising in itself but it seems that France would need a strong (moral?) message in order to overcome its difficulties. A stable and supportive relationship would definitely spread more hope.

The other view on this that the Sarkozy’s might have orchestrated this whole show for him to achieve power – is simply ‘abominable’ - though probable.

Whatever the true story behind it all is, it’s a sad story. Without being pathetic about leaders in general, this story will leave some clumsy feeling among the French of having been betrayed (I think). The President’s private life is his but he should be honest by all means and at all times.

[Lilly]

Liz,

this is Charles Bremner's Paris blog. Paris is the French capital. This is all about France and the French. You might have gotten on the wrong train?

[azloon]

[Who gives a damn, the French are really no cocern of mine.] LIZ

finally, a poster who doesn't care about france whatsoever. what's next? someone posting a used car listing here?

What's remarkable about a blog such as this is that you DO get to ask the journalist questions about their relationships with the subjects they cover. this is a wonderful advance over the 'good old days" of print journalism (though the sun may be setting on print journalism entirely).

imo, charles is an excellent reporter and i trust his observations and ability to tell me what's going on. and he has an interesting, non-french, 'take' on his subjects. incidentally, i once spent an hour with a charles at a party in Neuilly where we drank a bottle of chateau latour ('64), and talked about french breasts. (this last little twist is a fiction, the praise authentic).

re: sarko's apparent upbeat mood:

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, HE'S FREE AT LAST.

we all know why divorce is so expensive: because (sadly in many cases) it's worth it.

cheers

[Actu75]

*Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.
*A quelque chose divorce est bon:
The Republic will at least get rid (for a time) of this constitutionally inexistent and symbolically retrograde notion of "Première dame de France". Let's let it to the Anglosaxons.
*Liz :
If so, why the hell are you your valuable time and interest on this blog?

[Ian J]

I can't see her being on her lonesome for long- if indeed she is now. A cracker if ever I saw one. Sarko was one lucky man, for a while at least- better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

[Actu75]

*Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.
*A quelque chose divorce est bon:
The Republic will at least get rid (for a time) of this constitutionally inexistent and symbolically retrograde notion of "Première dame de France". Let's let it to the Anglosaxons.
*Liz :
If so, why the hell are you your valuable time and interest on this blog?

[colin grayson]

anglo saxon first lady ? in the US of A perhaps , certainly not the UK ; the last one tried to do her job despite constant hounding from the press ; can just imagine mrs bush answering the door of the white house in her dressing gown !!

and mrs brown sounds like a very nice lady ...supports her husband as you would hope , just like my wife going to business dinners ; but no more than that
there is no magazine called london match that I know of

[Keith]

Would Liz like to learn how to spell the English language before providing us with ridiculous, uneducated comments.....

[richard]

the woman is quite soulless.he is well rid of her.

[richard]

her eyes are vacant.how on earth he ever put up with her is beyond me.
on the other hand it is true that compatible "body smells" are of primary importance.

[Dominique]

Actu75,

I agree! the only problem is that Sarko told us he was finding his energy in her presence on his side. If she leaves, Sarko will have no more energy then...

I doubt any journalist (whatever his nationality) will ever dare raising him the issue.

We'll either have a depressed weak president, or, a president who changed his mind (the one i would prefer)

If Sarko is depressed, i suggest we all set up a charity in order to have "les girls de l'Elysée" replacing the "garde républicaine" in the "cour de l'Elysée". I'm sure he'll find appetit back! Can you imagine the Bastille day on the champs élysées? That would be a true rupture!

[Dot KING]

The wraps are off and now we feel sorry for poor little Sarko? Mais, non, any man who sent the RG to bring me back to suit his own purposes when I'd left him, would not get my sympathy (in fact I wouldn't have come back). It would seem that at least if the Royal / Hollande couple stayed together until after the election, it was by mutual agreement and without any element of coercion.
Remember all that nonsense about Cécilia having a rôle if he was elected? He lied to get what he wanted. Such a man is not to be trusted in my ever so humble opinion.
I agree with everyne about Liz's comment, you need at least to be a bit francophile to contribute to this blog with any credibility.

[Actu75]

Colin
From my point of view the UK has permanent first lady with an unlimited mandate.
In her good days she might look like Helen Mirren.

[Joan B]

It's difficult to understand why Sarkozy won't just make a statement to clear the air. All this soap opera is surely "nuisible" to the French presidency. Thank you Charles for keeping us informed in a sensible sort of way.

[Daisy]

Cecilia is famous in her own right now. She no longer needs him to get invitations to A-list events.

The French press and members of the international press have given Sarkozy a free pass. Funny how none of these journalists are up in arms about his curtailment of journalistic freedom in France. It's no different from a dictatorship where you are expect to write flattering things about the dear leader...or else.

Mr. Bremer, I think you spilled some of that Elysee kool aid on your shirt.

[azloon]

Dominique: That would be a true rupture!"

i am hoping you meant 'rapture,' not 'rupture.' the latter is possible if things really got out of hand (if you know what i mean). :)

[rocket]

Dominique

"We'll either have a depressed weak president, or, a president who changed his mind (the one i would prefer)"

God! you people are weak!

Not surprised that you fold so easily!

[The 3rd Column]

Curtailment of journalistic freedom just because Sarkozy doesn't hold press conferences to announce his separation from his wife?

Give me a break!

You Daisy, are one vicious nig nog.

[Frank Schnittger]

What a wonderful day for the press! Now we shall have a Presidential Harem of nubile young ladies vying for the honour of becoming the first Lady of France. Every week we will have glossy magazines full of the latest contenders in all their finery.

What Princess Diana did for the UK fashion and tourist industries, Sarkozy could do for France. He could have a new date for every visit to a foreign head of state. Foreign countries could offer up their finest beaus. We could be back to the Feudal right of Kings to have first go with every virgin in the Kingdom.

And the beauty of it all is that all discussion of actual policies and the performance of his Government will be overshadowed by the latest frock and how she caught his eye. This is bread and circuses for the masses whilst Rome (i.e. Paris) burns.

[Valentin]

I heard it with my own ears (like someone said on another post :)) tonight, that both Sarko and Cécilia are expected to get involved again (refaire leur vie) very soon !

Or when it is a journalist saying it, we understand it is already known that both have other... "interests" already :)
Why don't we rather focus on WHO would be the NEXT Madame Sarkozy?
Any insights, anyone ? Come on, you can be anonymous here! (right, Charles?)

[Marguerite]

Peut-etre que Sarko et Sego vont se pacser !

[Valentin]

CB:
"But he is also impressively sharp-witted and direct and has a sympathique side"

Infuriating? I admit this is hard for me to understand: this "acharnement" Sarko seems to provoke in certain people.
I thought it's a matter of "aigri" lefwingers - they treated Chirac exactly the same. Maybe it's more than that.

As to the rest, as always, it's a matter of where to put your bet. There can always be bad luck and all... I go with sharp-witted any time.

[azloon]

Divorced, separated, otherwise unattached??

http://www.livescience.com/technology/071012-robot-marriage.html

i am certain sarko and ceci will first have their eyes out for other humans.

but, i say, hey, don' knock this if you haven't tried it.

[Johnny Foreigner]

This is bigger news than Black Thursday. And clearly far more exciting for a discussion than any dull old strike. Vive la nouvelle France: Page 1: the President might be getting divorced, Page 2: What went wrong in the Royal couple? Page 3: Cecilia bares all. Page 4: Was he using the wrong deodorant? Jogging tips for men. Page 5: Cecilia's shopping-therapy. Battle the ex-hubby blues with his credit card. Page 6: Ten reasons to feel sorry for Mr Sarkozy. Page 23: Strikes, blah blah, just like in 1995 blah blah blah, President having a tough time blah blah blah shut up and leave him alone blah blah blah selfish gits blah blah people jogging to work blah blah. Page 24: Where to shop on your day off. Page 30: Letters: Won't be the strikes what bring 'im to 'is knees, it'll be 'is wife.

Workers of the world go shop, you have nothing to lose but the President's wife.

[Judith]

Once the separation is formalised Cécilia will disappear from public sight. Noone will have any further interest in her. I wonder how her daughters will cope with being cut off from the Elysée. They seem to be enjoying being belle filles of the Président very much.
The only problem for the Président (once he has recovered from the grief of separation) will be what to do with all the women who will be 'interested' in him.

[christopher muir]

It's believed that Greta Garbo didn't say "I want to be alone," but rather "I want to be left alone." If Cecilia feels the same way, she's going to detest the next few years as she is inevitably chased by the world's press. The Elysee might have proved to be a better hiding place.

[Maggie G]

For the people who don't get a chance to hear the comedian Nicholas Canteloup, he just had François Hollande giving advice to Nocholas Sarkozy: don't wash tergal shirts at more than 30° or they melt, and if you run out of underpants (one never has enough) you can always re-wear the unwashed ones one more time.

As for Sarkozy himself, Canteloup had him thanking all the transportation grevists because with no trains, buses, etc at least Cecelia can't leave him 'today'.

[Maggie G]

PS Concerning the strikes, Nicholas Canteloup also had a bystander giving a colourful commentary on a fight over the last available velib in Paris.

Why do the French always say "aller travailler" and not "aller au travaille"?

Anyway, that's another unexpected benefit of the velib -- helping people get to work during transportation strikes.

[Actu75]

"Why do the French always say "aller travailler" and not "aller au travaille"?"
Maybe because they speak French.
Aller "au" implies a relatively passive attitude once you get there. Aller "faire" implies action whatever it is -travailler, dormir, manger, et caetera-. And action after all, is what work is about.
Yes: even for the French.

[Dominique]

Maggie, Actu75,

We eventually may say sometimes..

"aller au boulot" and not "aller bouloter"

"aller au turbin" and also "aller turbiner"

"aller à la mine" and not "aller miner"

some even say, and please forgive me

"aller tapiner" and not "aller au tapin".

[rocket]

Actu75

Aren't you French and wouldn't that be "aller au travail"? "Not... aller au travaille"

[Maggie G]

Thank-you Actu75 and Dominique for answering my question, and Rocket for correcting the spelling.

But Actu75, it still seems more logical to me to say "aller au travail" if it involves a long jouney on the metro or a bus. "Aller travailler" gives me the impression that you're just going to work in the next room.

Certainly, during a huge transportion strike, the difficulty is in getting to work (arriving at the destination), not in the working itself, so it seems to me the expression should be "aller au travail" (or maybe it should be "se rendre au travail").

[Dot KING]

Dominique, I agree totally with your verbal phrases, quite right, it's a nuance, but an important one.
One of our bilingual traps is the word "eventually" which in English is used to mean "after a time" or "after a while", even "little by little" whereas in French it's used to mean something closer to "possibly".
Information, not criticism. :)

[Actu75]

Rocket
Oups again. You're twice right.
For once.

Dominique
Of course the "Au" being more a passiv attitude is not an absolute rule. Is there any in the french langage?
Yet aller au boulot, aller au turbin, ou à la mine seem to be more linked with unsastisfying, not chosen nore motivating work conditions. As Mistinguett song: "Du soir au matin, toujours au turbin, moi j'en ai marre..."
On the other hand we might choose d'aller conter fleurette.

[Daniel Strohl]

Actu75,

Il vaut mieux conter fleurette que d'aller au turf ...

[Valentin]

"Eventually" is a fake trap.

Actually the english event, eventual and eventuality had the same latin root and meaning as their french counterparts (related to the idea of possibility, contingency).

The shift only occured somewhere in the 17th or 18th century and only for eventual, which parted with the original meaning, to be used as ultimately, or at the end of something (as in "the rugby game was eventually lost, alas..."), which to me suggests passing from "possible" to "probable". Interesting.

[Valentin]

Charles promised to make a pause writing about Nicolas Sarkozy. I was still looking forward to that extensive post supposed to detail his views and impressions on the French president :)

[Sandrine]

"was still looking forward to that extensive post "

I'm still waiting for the one on Belgium. What's going over there seems pretty tragic.

But hey, take your time Charles ! We're not in a hurry... ;o)

[Dot KING]

no Valentin, I said in English WE USE - I said nothing about roots or origins, it was simply a message for Daniel who used "eventually" as a direct translation from the way it's used in French. If I make an inappropriate usage in French then I welcome being put right.
We, the English, use the word "eventually" to express the passing of time, (eg eventually, Valentin accepted someone else's knowledge and kept quiet) and not to any notion of possibility or probability. I do not say that the French is wrong and the English is right, I simply say, we use that word differently. For Daniel's information. You are free to ignore it if you wish. OK? :)

[Valentin]

Dorothy,

In spite of how it might appear to a highly susceptible mind, my comment was simply due to my previous interest in that word. I apologize for brutally inserting myself into your public conversation with Daniel.
The point was that its meaning is different from all others in its family, in that it shows a peculiar change of its conditionality. Indeed we enter here the private lands of etymology: someone not interested is nonetheless free to ignore it.

Besides that, your using "eventually" to express the passing of time will under no circumstance change the true meaning of that word, which is "ultimately" - such semantic shifts don't happen often or easily, no matter the degree of self-righteousness (or is it plain stubbornness?) a English teacher in Aquitaine would possess.

[Valentin]

Charles, you nasty soul, there was a smile sign :) ending my previous comment !
:)

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot King,

"For Daniel's information. You are free to ignore it if you wish. OK? :)"

No, I am always happy when somebody corrects my English or my German. No problem, bien au contraire ...

[Daniel Strohl]

Valentin,

No problem whatsoever because of "interference" ...

[azloon]

Dorothy of Aquitaine

re eventually

talk about angels on the head of a pin.

i ran through in my mind all the illustrations of eventually in various posts and could barely make a distinction in meaning. it's wonderful that your and M. Vee can quarrel over such a thing. :)

[Valentin]

lol Azloon, well the distinction would be between "in the end, finally" and "after a while". Subtle non :)
But if you try to translate eventually in other languages, you'll find as sole equivalent something that definitely ends with that event: finalement, en définitive etc. and never something that happens at some unspecified future moment.

Angels on the head of a pin 'ey :)

[azloon]

i suppose that's why many non-english native author's love enlish so much, i.e. they don't have to deal with such distintions, in fact can use the same word and readers will read into it the proper meaning from context.

[azloon]

Vee --

the post re:english/eventually is for you.