Rachida Dati Births a Baby and a Mystery
Petite Zohra Dati Has a Well-Known Mother, But Who is The Father?
Jan 5, 2009
The accouchement of a French minister wouldn’t usually occasion such speculation were it not for Dati’s close relationship with her boss and mentor President Nicolas Sarkozy. Notwithstanding the French president’s marriage to the Italian chanteuse Carla Bruni in February, 2008, any female within the orbit of the diminutive French head of state has the uncanny habit of being dragged into the media maelstrom that often surrounds him.
After Cécilia and Before Carla?
This was especially the case during the interregnum in Sarkozy’s love life when he was in the process of divorcing his second wife, Cécilia Ciganer Abeniz, and wooing the future Madame Sarkozy. At the time of his estrangement from Cecila, Dati, 43, filled the female lacuna in his life by accompanying him on a number of high-profile occasions, including his reception at the White House state banquet. The French media – who usually abide by the injunction that "News ends at the bedroom door" – was rife with rumours of an amorous liaison between the mentor and his glamorous protégée.
Dati and Her Suitors
However, by the time Dati had announced her pregnancy in September, 2008, Sarkozy was newly-wed and paternity was believed to fall at the feet of one of a quartet of high-profile suitors: Henri Proglio, head of the water management company Veolia Environment; Dominique Desseigne, proprietor of a number of hotels and a casino chain; former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar; and finally, France's Sports Minister, Bernard Laporte.
Aznar Issues Dati Pregnancy Denial
While three of the possible progenitors have kept their counsel, Mr Aznar felt compelled to deny the claims published in a Moroccan newspaper that he was indeed the father. In a statement issued by the ex-Prime Minister's office, he announced: “In relation to the rumours that have appeared in certain areas of the media linking José MarÍa Aznar with the pregnancy of Rachida Dati, we would like to state the following: the claims are totally and utterly false.”
Zohra Dati a Sarkozy After All?
It is possible that these claims and counter claims have blindsided an otherwise argus-eyed media. Immediately after the birth Sarkozy’s younger brother, Francois, was seen in attendance at the Paris Muette Clinic where the child was born. The youngest Sarkozy brother is believed to have spent the festive period with Dati and it is mooted that the media's pursuit of le père is over. According to the French media, if this is the case it would answer for the usually decisive President’s reluctance to remove Dati from her office inspite of dissafection among the lawyers and judges with the Minstry she heads.
This perhaps explains her eagnerness to return to work after a miserly period of convalesence. A spokesman at her office announced Dati's intention of attending a presidential speech at the Cour de Cassation (Court of Cassation) less than a week after the birth.
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