French minister reveals pregnancy

(Why is this story getting so much attention?) Dati has always gotten a lot of attention, partially because she’s the first person of North African descent to get appointed to a high profile cabinet position and she came into the position with high expectations. She had no political experience when she arrived, so people have scrutinized her closely. She’s also a beautiful woman who goes out in designer clothes and that gets noticed. She’s also mercurial and has been pursuing reform of the justice system in France. (She’s also a Muslim. How does that enter into talk about her?) It hasn’t really that much. (We’re told that the French are fairly blase about social issues and the personal lives of public figures. Why is this different?) Partially because she’s made the announcement herself, and said she’s single and isn’t going to say who the father is. the question is not about her behavior but about how she’ll handle her responsibilities. (In France we’re told socially, it’s a progressive atmosphere, so how does that explain for this activity surrounding her announcement?) The French are private themselves and respect their politicians’ privacy, but they’re also socially conservative. They probably don’t approve even if they wouldn’t say so outright.