Sarkozy, Wife Confirm Split

First couple confirms split as transit strike grinds France to halt

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2007 7:41 AM CDT

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Sarkozy, Wife Confirm Split — Then new French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, wipes a tear on his wife Cecilia's cheek at the Elysee Palace in Paris during Sarkozy's taking office ceremony in this May, 16, 2007 file photo. Sarkozy and his wife have confirmed they are separating. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File) (Associated Press)

Nicolas Sarkozy's office confirmed that he and his indomitable wife Cecilia are separating even as transit strikers railing against his economic reforms have idled France—handing the bombastic French president a bad day, indeed. The 1-2 punch ends months of speculation about the collapse of the 11-year marriage, and provides Sarkozy the biggest challenge of his nascent presidency.

Cecilia Sarkozy, a model who told a reporter before the May election that the idea of being France's first lady "bores me," has recently been spotted in a Swiss hotel where an old lover lives. The Sarkozys were separated for several months in 2005. Meanwhile, strikes protesting Sarkozy's proposed pension cutbacks crippled 90% of French transit, with some union workers vowing to continue the strike tomorrow. (More Nicolas Sarkozy stories.)

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