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PARIS — France's Segolene Royal is separating from her partner, Socialist party leader François Hollande, French media said, in an announcement that partially overshadowed Sunday's parliamentary elections.
The relationship between Ms. Royal and Mr. Hollande has fascinated France after Ms. Royal's speedy rise to become the party's presidential candidate last year -- a position traditionally reserved for the party head.
She lost the presidential election last month but has since made clear that she wants to replace Mr. Hollande as Socialist secretary-general.
During the election campaign, the two Socialists, who have four children but never married, frequently denied rumours they were splitting up and Ms. Royal said earlier this year she had wanted a romantic wedding with Mr. Hollande in 2006.
French television said Ms. Royal would announce the decision to separate from Mr. Hollande in a book to be published this week.
There was no immediate comment from either politician about the news that was flashed on various television channels, but party colleagues speaking on live shows did not question the announcement.
Mr. Hollande is due to remain party chief until the autumn of 2008, but several Socialist officials have suggested the leadership issue should be resolved this year.
