French Justice Minister Rachida Dati Resigns Amidst New Baby’s Paternity Rumor

Rachida Dati, the 43-year-old Justice Minister who returned to work five days after giving birth, has been fired or voluntarily resigned, depending on whose reports one believes.

Dati has been at the center of several controversies for some time now, including questions over the identity of her newborn daughter’s father, criticism over her lavish lifestyle and concern over her qualifications and capabilities.

She has, some allege, been asked to step down by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Dati resigned today, becoming second on a list of UMP party members aiming to work for the European Parliament with former minister Michel Barnier.

Among those who have been accused of, and have subsequently denied, fathering Dati’s child are Francois-Henri Pinault (Salma Hayek’s baby-daddy), former Spanish Prime Minister  José-Maria Aznar (Bush’s daddy-baby), French Sports Minister Bernard Laporte, President Sarkozy and Sarkozy’s brother. Which, as one might suspect, could make things a little awkward around the workplace for everyone involved. 

Dati has also been accused of having an “inappropriately lavish” lifestyle, spending money on designer clothing and jewelry, and participating in photo shoots for several magazines - behavior, some opine, that is unbecoming of a Justice Minister. 

Critics have also called her out on proceeding through reforms without consulting anyone. Her decision to close down court rooms and fire several legal workers prompted one judge to say that this only highlighted “the contrast between her show of  riches, dresses by grand couturiers, and the difficult reality that justice staff are living through.”

Public perception concerning her lifestyle and behavior - and most likely the fact that she is attractive - have earned Dati the nickname “Rachida Barbie.” Can you think of any other conventionally attractive woman in politics who has faced questions as to her abilities and been given a similar nickname? Here, we’ll help you out.

The timing does seem awfully suspicious to anyone looking in from the outside, so the circumstances surrounding Dati’s resignation begs the question: Would there be so much speculation into her personal life had she been less attractive? Would her decisions have been subjected to less scrutiny - and her to less condescending nicknames - had she been male? Its nearly impossible to play such a guessing game, but it does seem to quite the trend to pry into the sexual lives of physically attractive women in power. 

French minister who returned to work five days after giving birth is SACKED by Sarkozy [Daily Mail]