The four children of Francois Hollande will not attend his inauguration today as president of France. Given M. Hollande's messy personal life, the children's absence might seem significant of something. But the French press seems content to accept the official explanation that the non-invitation (or their refusal of an extended invitation?) is motivated solely by considerations of frugality and simplicity.
After 4 years of Nicholas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, the French may understandably be weary of watching soap opera in their politics. But Francois Hollande seems bent on performing another, like it or not