Segolene Royal is back in wake of hateful Trierweiler's demise
Hatchets are buried, the musical chairs resume, and there's even talk that Julie Gayet will soon be gone
PRESIDENT Francois Hollande's 'revolving girls' policy has come full circle. In a spectacular piece of French political theatre, Segolene Royal, the glamorous mother of his four children, has returned from the political wilderness to a senior appointment in his new government, hastily put together in the wake of the Socialists' humiliation in last week's local elections.
Segolene's return to the centre of government was made possible by Hollande's decision to oust his live-in partner Valerie Trierweiler after his secret affair with actress Julie Gayet hit the headlines in January.
During Trierweiler's doomed reign at the Elysee Palace, Segolene's name was not allowed to be mentioned. And in June 2012 she sent her now infamous tweet supporting Segolene's opponent in an important parliamentary election.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Segolene was standing in La Rochelle and was due to be made Speaker of the House if she won. In the final run-off, it was between her and the "dissident" leftist, Olivier Falorni.
In an act of malice shocking even by French standards, Trierweiler took it upon herself to tweet her 75,000-plus followers: "Courage to Olivier Falorni who has not been unworthy, who has battled alongside La Rochelle residents for many years with unselfish commitment." In other words, don't give it to Segolene.
Little wonder Le Monde today is headlining Royal's comeback 'La revanche de Segolene Royal' - Segolene's revenge.
She is now 60 and her career peak – when she was chosen as the 2007 Socialist presidential candidate but lost to Nicolas Sarkozy –is seven years behind her.
She returns as minister for the environment, sustainable development and energy. In the Cabinet pecking order, this puts her third behind the new prime minister, Manuel Valls, 51, the right-winger who replaces the short-lived Jean-Marc Ayrault, and foreign minister Laurent Fabius, one of the few to keep his job.
Among the other new Cabinet names worth noting (but use pencil not ink, such is the fragile nature of Hollande's administration) is Arnaud Montebourg, a protectionist left-winger known as 'Monsieur Made in France', who becomes economy minister with oversight over industry and the digital economy. Expect fireworks in his department.
As for the French public, more concerned about the country's 11 per cent unemployment rate and the ever-rising cost of living, they can't stand any of Hollande's women: a recent poll showed 70 per cent were against Segolene getting a job in government, while only eight per cent of respondents to a January poll said they liked Trierweiler as First Lady.
The gossip to watch for - sorry, the next serious development to keep an eye on - is whether the rapprochement with Segolene is purely political or also personal. Some are suggesting that M Hollande is ready to make sweet music again with Segolene and ditch Julie Gayet. Surely not?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Nigel Horne is Comment Editor of The Week.co.uk. He was formerly Editor of the website until September 2013. He previously held executive roles at The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How green onions could swing South Korea's election
The Explainer Country's president has fallen foul of the oldest trick in the campaign book, not knowing the price of groceries
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's battle to save Kharkiv from Putin's drones
The Explainer Country's second-largest city has been under almost daily attacks since February amid claims Russia wants to make it uninhabitable
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published