THE TELEGRAPH: President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and his wife Cécilia have divorced "by mutual consent", the Elysée Palace confirmed today.
Pressure had been building on Mr Sarkozy to make a statement about his marriage amid fears that the issue could overshadow the EU summit in Lisbon, where European leaders are due to agree a text for a simplified European treaty.
Mr Sarkozy, 52, and Cécilia, a 49-year old former model, have been married for 11 years and have five children: two each from their first marriages and their own son, Louis.
The television news channel LCI and the Liberation newspaper quoted judicial sources yesterday as saying that Cécilia had applied to a judge for a divorce on Monday and that a judge visited the Elysée Palace later that evening to see Mr Sarkozy to validate the procedure. Nicolas Sarkozy announces end of his marriage (more) By Henry Samuel in Paris
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Frankreichs Präsident Sarkozy und seine Frau trennen sich: Bestätigung nach wochenlangen Gerüchten
LE FIGARO:
Nicolas et Cécilia Sarkozy divorcent de Samuel Laurent
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE:
Nicolas Sarkozy et son épouse Cécilia officialisent leur separation
Mark Alexander
