"Desperate Housewives". French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia have divorced.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia have divorced, the president's office said on Thursday, ending rampant¹ speculation² about the state of their 11-year old marriage.

Sarkozy's spokesman announced earlier in the day that the pair were separating, but hours later clarified the statement to make clear they had "divorced by mutual³ consent."

The couple's lawyer said they had already seen a judge to formalize the split and agreed financial terms.

"There was no problem, they resolved everything amicably," lawyer Michele Cahen said.

It was the first time in modern French history that a serving president has divorced his wife.

Cecilia played a crucial role in his rise to power, serving as an adviser⁴ during his previous stints⁵ as interior and finance minister. Sarkozy told his aides that Cecilia was "the only non-negotiable part" of his career.

Cecilia Sarkozy has been increasingly absent from her husband's side since he came to power in May.

Rumors⁶ about the marriage intensified⁷ this week after a presidential spokesman said Cecilia Sarkozy would skip a state visit to Morocco next week.

Cecilia Sarkozy was a smiling figure at her husband's inauguration⁸ in May as she stood with the children. But she has since said the role of a first lady was not something she was comfortable with, and recently, she said she didn't see herself as having any role at all.

"Desperate housewife," Liberation daily said in a headline.

The Sarkozy's relationship first hit the rocks in 2005, when they both had affairs and briefly⁹ lived apart.