Don't envy them because they're beautiful and stylish. Rather, envy them because they're among the most powerful women in Europe (and beyond) in addition to being beautiful and stylish. Not a bad combination. Although I'm not exactly a fan of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, he has done more to raise the profile of women and minorities than any French president before him. These women are talented, accomplished, powerful, controversial and very, very stylish.
Let's start with France's reluctant First Lady, Cecilia Sarkozy. Rumors are currently swirling around the state of the Sarkozy marriage and she has been criticized for infamously snubbing the Bush family barbecue last summer (can you blame her?). She was however reportedly instrumental in obtaining the release of the Bulgarian nurses held captive on bogus murder charges by the Libyan government last summer. She didn't do it alone (obviously) but by most accounts, her intervention did ultimately sway the flaky dictator Momar Khadafi. She is rumored to have had considerable sway over her husband's cabinet selections as well and most political analysts agree that she is his most influential advisor. It's unclear how much power she would wield over the French president should the rumors of a split be true. I suspect however that we haven't heard the last of her.
Rachida Dati, an early supporter of Nicholas Sarkozy, was named Garde des Sceaux (Justice Minister). Her life reads like the typical immigrant tale up to a point. Born to an Algerian mother and Moroccan father, she is from a modest conservative muslim milieu, which in France is not a ticket to the corridors of power. Dati beat the odds merely by graduating from university. She impressed many during the presidential campaign in her role as one of Sarkozy's official campaign spokespersons. She has stumbled recently as her ambitious and controversial legal reforms have encountered stiff resistance. She is the second woman to occupy this position. The first was Elizabeth Guigou of France's Socialist Party, who was appointed by then Premier Ministre Lionel Jospin.
Michele Alliot-Marie, currently Minister of the Interior (previously Minister of Defense under Jacques Chirac - the first woman to occupy this testosterone-charged position in French history), has proven herself a formidable politician. She is one of the few holdovers from the Chirac administration. Early in the campaign for the presidency, she struck an agreement with Sarkozy whereby she withdrew her own candidacy and supported his bid for the UMP nomination. Her reward was his former cabinet position. She is the first woman in France to occupy this powerful position and has been listed as the 11th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine.
Christine Lagarde, Minister of Finance, is a newcomer to the French political scene. An attorney by training, she is former head of Baker McKenzie, the US-based international law firm. Lagarde was voted 12th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine. She's recognizable by her signature white hair, engaging smile and battered brown Birkin bag in lieu of a briefcase.
Finally, Rama Yade, the youngest member of the Sarkozy cabinet at just 30 years of age, was appointed Secretaire d'Etat aux Affaires etrangeres et aux Droits de l'homme (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights). Born in Senegal and raised in France, she is probably the most controversial member of the current government with a reputation for inflexibility. Ironically given her post, she seems to be short on diplomatic skills and long on ego. She has her detractors within the cabinet and the UMP party but for now she has the staunch support of Sarkozy. Her gaffes have been chronicled in the current edition of Le Point.
I find it comforting that despite the sexism and sometimes outright misogyny that frequently characterise political circles, the women described in this piece not only have held on to their femininity but seem to have embraced it. And that is a powerful exercise in style if ever there was one.
Photographic References:
Row 1: C. Sarkozy & N. Sarkozy; C. Sarkozy at Presidential Investiture Ceremony; C. Sarkozy & N. Sarkozy (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters).
Row 2: R. Dati; R. Dati (Benoit Tessier); M. Alliot-Marie (Benoit Tessier); C. Lagarde.
Row 3: Bernard Kouchner, R. Dati & R. Yade; R. Yade; M. Alliot-Marie, N. Sarkozy, C. Lagarde & R. Dati.
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