The French President’s women: World asks how does he do it?

Paris: Women troubles are nothing new for Francois Hollande, to the bewilderment of those who can’t quite see what it is that attracts beautiful, talented females to France’s otherwise unloved president.

From the lecture halls of the elite Ecole National d’Administration (ENA) to the summit of the state, affairs of the heart have played a central role in Hollande’s political journey.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hollande appeared before more than 500 journalists. The question on everyone’s mind was: Is Valerie Trierweiler – whom he once described as the ‘love of his life’ and ditched his wife of 25 years and mother of his four children, Segolene Royal, for – still the First Lady?

With Trierweiler lying in hospital due to stress following the revelation of Hollande’s clandestine trysts with actress Julie Gayet, all Hollande would say was, “I understand your question. And I am sure you will understand my answer… Private affairs are dealt with in private… this is not the place to go into this”.

Hollande has been caught making night time visits to Gayet in a borrowed apartment just yards from the Elysee Palace. When the affair with Gayet was finally confirmed last week, the reaction in France was indifference.

But the rest of the world was lapping up a saga in which every little snippet, from the national indifference to infidelity to the breakfast croissants delivered to the new couple’s love nest, has been quintessentially French.