Mrs Sarkozy snubs Bush picnic
13/08/2007 14:50  - (SA)  

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Bush, Sarkozy on 'casual lunch' Sarkozy heading to Africa Sarkozy's wife faces scrutiny

Paris - The French media on Monday criticised Cecilia Sarkozy, the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for cancelling a picnic with the family of US President George W Bush at short notice.

Her failure to attend was the only "dissonance" during the informal meeting between Bush and his French counterpart, according to the daily Liberation.

A spokesperson for the White House had said earlier, the meeting had originated from a personal invitation of Bush's wife Laura to Cecilia.

Sarkozy excused his wife, saying she was suffering from tonsillitis.

Cecilia Sarkozy, however, was spotted shopping in their Wolfeboro holiday resort only a day after the meeting, the Le Parisien daily reported.

In the headlines

In recent months, Cecilia Sarkozy has on several occasions made headlines with surprise absences as well as spectacular appearances.

For instance, she declined to vote in the second round of the French presidential elections and only joined her husband and winner late in the evening.

She also failed to attend a mayor concert under the Eiffel Tower organised by her husband for the French national holiday.

However, she suddenly joined the negotiations with Libya over the release of the Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor and accompanied them in the French presidential jet back to Sofia.

French magazines have already dedicated numerous title stories to her, with one entitled "Cecilia - the enigma". - Sapa-dpa