FRANCE'S first woman justice minister had up to EIGHT lovers on the go, it was claimed yesterday.
Rachida Dati is in a legal battle to try to force tycoon Dominique Desseigne to say he fathered her daughter Zohra, three.
Desseigne, 68, who is refusing to take a DNA test, insists he is one of many who had an "adventure" with Ms Dati, 47 -- which will further the philandering reputation of French politicians.
And his lawyers have claimed she was involved in up to eight relationships at the time.
It is claimed her boyfriends included a TV host, a Spanish PM, a Qatari politician and a brother of ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Those previously suspected of being Zohra's father include Mr Sarkozy himself.
Ms Dati, who has a reputation as a self-publicist, is said to have encouraged the speculation during interviews.
Civil service documents show the previous coalition government, which involved Geert Wilders anti-Islam PVV in a supporting role, had an image problem abroad.
Ministers said foreign governments understood that Wilders was not officially part of government. However, official papers show that time after time diplomats wanted instructions on how to avoid reputation damage as much as possible for example, when Wilders published a new book. Often this did not work, the documents state.
Rob de Wijk, director of research institute HCCS and an expert on international relations, said this should be no surprise. He said, "Wilders position was impossible to explain abroad."
All the problems have not been solved now that Wilders is no longer part of the alliance. "He was a symbol of the way the Netherlands had turned in on itself," added de Wijk.
Former Dutch foreign minister Ben Bot told a television show last month The Netherlands can regain its previous influence in the world if the new government ditches its current surly image. He said that over the past few years, the Netherlands has become known as the country which opposes everything. "Diplomacy with a smile and a soft voice" will put the Netherlands back on the map, Bot stated.
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Civil service documents show the previous coalition government, which involved Geert Wilders anti-Islam PVV in a supporting role, had an image problem abroad. 
