FRANCE: French justice minister Rachida Dati, one of the stars of president Nicolas Sarkozy's cabinet, announced she was pregnant yesterday but declined to say who the father was.
The divorced daughter of North African immigrants, 42-year-old Ms Dati has become the public face of Mr Sarkozy's drive to add some diversity to French politics.
Since taking office last year, she has appeared almost as often in the glossy magazines as the serious political press, prompting criticism that she is seeking celebrity status rather than concentrating on her job.
Being a single mother carries no social stigma in modern France and a census released earlier this year showed that, in 2006, for the first time more children were born out of wedlock here than to married couples.
"I want to remain prudent, because it isn't yet safe. I'm still in the danger zone," the website of Le Monde daily quoted Ms Dati as saying, referring to the risk of a possible miscarriage. "I am 42 years old and have always said that [having a child] was fundamental for me," she said. "If it goes ahead, I will be happy and have the feeling I've looped the loop."
Ms Dati is photographed alone when she goes out for evening parties. "My private life is complicated and I'm keeping it off-limits to the press. I won't say anything about it," she told reporters when asked about the father.
Ms Dati has raised eyebrows since becoming justice minister, appearing in designer evening wear at official events and posing for the cover of Paris Match.
She regularly travels with Mr Sarkozy on his trips abroad and was known to be very close to his former wife, Cecilia.
As minister she has overseen a contested reform of France's judicial system, closing a number of courthouses and drawing the wrath of the legal profession. Many of her close advisers have quit, complaining of her authoritarian ways. - (Reuters)