France: A Perfectly Normal Couple

They are France’s first presidential couple not to be married. In addition, the electorate has been further annoyed by the low-profile stance taken by the country’s new Première Dame. During the election campaign Valérie Trierweiler had helped give her boyfriend a bit more character and charisma in the public eye. Now, however, she has no plans to stay in the limelight and instead intends to return to her career as a journalist. It’s a different story with the new president’s previous partner Ségolène Royal, who will again have a big voice in French politics after helping him on the campaign trail.