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Is Cécilia Breaking His Heart—Encore?

Sarko's mercurial wife skips out on visit to freed Bulgarian nurses

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 5, 2007 10:37 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Bulgarian government honored French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Cécilia, for their recent efforts in helping to free five Bulgarian nurses held in Libya. But the president attended the ceremony alone. Despite weeks of planning, the first lady backed out. She hasn't made an official appearance since July, reviving rumors that her often-troubled marriage could be on the rocks again. 

Mrs. Sarkozy's office insisted that she skipped out on the ceremony because she didn't want to revive the criticism that surrounded her negotiations that led to the nurses' release. But  France's première dame is making a habit of disappearing. She recently skipped a major dinner and a TV appearance. She also avoided a visit with President Bush and family last summer, and was seen a short time later shopping.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, second from right, looks at an album with Bulgarian nurses, Valia Tcherveniachka, right, Palestinian born Bulgarian doctor Ashadf Ahmad Juma'a, left, and  Kistiana Valtcheva, second from left, who were senteced to life prison in Lybia, at the French Embassy residence in the  capital Sofia, Thursday, Oct....
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, second from right, looks at an album with Bulgarian nurses, Valia Tcherveniachka, right, Palestinian born Bulgarian doctor Ashadf Ahmad Juma'a, left, and Kistiana Valtcheva,...   (Associated Press)
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, center, reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in front of the Tomb of Unknown Soldier in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. Sarkozy arrived on one day official visit to Bulgaria. (AP Photo/Petar Petrov)
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, center, reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in front of the Tomb of Unknown Soldier in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. Sarkozy arrived...   (Associated Press)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, top left, prepares to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during an arrival ceremony at Nevsky Square in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007.  Sarkozy arrived on an one day official visit to Bulgaria. (AP Photo/Boryana Katsarova/POOL)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, top left, prepares to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during an arrival ceremony at Nevsky Square in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. Sarkozy...   (Associated Press)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, cente, embraces Bulgarian nurse Kristiana Valcheva, right, as Snejana Dimitrova, left, and  Palestinian-born Bulgarian doctor Ashadf Ahmad Juma'a, second left, looks on during a meeting with Bulgarian nurses who were senteced to life prison in Lybia, at the French Embassy residence in Sofia, Thursday, Oct. 4,...
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, cente, embraces Bulgarian nurse Kristiana Valcheva, right, as Snejana Dimitrova, left, and Palestinian-born Bulgarian doctor Ashadf Ahmad Juma'a, second left, looks...   (Associated Press)
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