Royal: Difficulties with Hollande before campaign

from TF1.LCI.fr

"For some time now a number of imputations and rumours have been circulating regarding myself and François Hollande, I think it is time to clarify these matters" declared Ségolène Royal in an interview with France Info broadcast Monday. "I wanted to say very simply that we have decided not to be together anymore. Like all couples, we have experienced difficulties. I had chosen to put these aside during the [presidential] campaign (...) It was also a necessity to protect my children" she added. "Today, I think that we are entering a a new stage, and it is important to say things as they are regarding each other and other people" she concluded.

In "Behind the scenes of defeat", a book written by journalists Christine Courcol et Thierry Masure published Wednesday, the socialist pretender to the French presidency ascribes an affair to her partner of thirty years, whom she met at the ENA in 1978 and the father of her four children. "I asked François Hollande to leave home, to live his love life on his side, hereafter spread out in books and newspapers and I wished him happiness" she writes according to extracts published in the media.

Protecting the Private Life
For his part, François Hollande underlined Monday that his separation with Ségolène Royal dealt with his "private life" and had "no political consequences" as it had "no political cause". "Things have been said, and I have confirmed them. I have always sought to separate my political life which must have its principles, rules and foundations from my private life which must be protected" said François Hollande on the same station.

The first secretary of the socialist party has "no other comments to make". "I will be watchful always over the coming weeks and months to have this path of duty" he said. Regarding the public announcement of this separation the night of the second round of legislative elections, François Hollande said: "It is Ségolène Royal who has wished to give her side of facts first to a book, it is her choice, her freedom.