Unmarried moms - a tale of two cultures

While most of America's media is trying to make a moral responsibility issue out of Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant 'out of wedlock' (to coin a quaint old phrase), the French, as ever, view these things so differently.

Rachida Dati, the French Justice Minister - a protegee of Nicolas Sarkozy, and probably the third ranking Minister in the French cabinet, announced yesterday after weeks of speculation in the French press that yes, she was pregnant, no she was not married, and, no, she would not say who the father was and the press could mind its own business! As you can see, she was hardly in a position to deny the facts!



While the French press is eager to know details, there is no suggestion that Mademoiselle Dati's high profile job in the French government is at risk and, indeed, rather than the high-and-mighty moral gripes in the press, suggesting that she was unfit for office and sending out the wrong message, which would doubtless be her fate in the US and Britain, The French, as is their romantic wont, seem to be more excited by the 'cherchez l'amant' aspect of the affair.

They seem to be viewing it all as an exciting mystery, offering names of possible lovers with whom Mme Dati has been known to be friendly. This, of course, is another side of the gallic nature which would not play well among the politics-watchers of America and the UK. Mme Dati has, quite publicly, over the last 12 months, had relationships with Jose Aznar, the former Prime Minister of Spain, Henri Proglio, millionaire boss of an entertainment empire, Dominique Desseine, Head of the Barriere Casino and Hotel chain, and a TV chat show host. She considers such matters to be her own business and nothing to do with her role in government. Unsurprisingly for France, her government colleagues and the people of France seem to agree.

Can you imagine a similar tolerance in either Britain or the US? Politicians have to do such things in secret and that's why they always appear so squalid when caught. The French seem to regard sex as a necessary life force just like eating and drinking and don't allow such matters to mar their judgment of how a politician does his or her job.

There is one outsider in all these calculations, and that is President Sarkozy himself. Before he married Carla Bruni, Mme Dati was his constant companion to official functions and she has described herself as 'devoted to him'

So the list of suspects buzzes around Paris. But at least it's all in the cause of l'amour and not judgment. Mme Dati can continue dispensing justice from her official residence secure in the knowledge that her revelation will damage her standing not one whit.

There are many politicians here and in Washington who must look across the Channel in envy.