PARIS , France ( CNN ) -- The wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy has spoken for the first time about the reasons her divorce in an interview with a French newspaper . The announcement ended weeks of speculation over their marriage . Cecilia Sarkozy told L'Est Republicain on Friday that the couple 's relationship had not been able to survive the glare of the media spotlight following a highly public separation in 2005 . The Sarkozys announced on Thursday they were divorcing by mutual consent after 11 years of marriage . A former model , Cecilia Sarkozy said that she was not comfortable with her position as first lady . `` I am someone who likes the shadows , serenity , tranquility . I had a husband who was a public man , I always knew that , I accompanied him for 20 years . But me , I think that is not my place . It is no longer my place , '' she was quoted as saying . The couple has been dogged by persistent rumors of infidelities , which Cecilia Sarkozy seemed to confirm in her newspaper interview . Explaining the events that led to the couple separating in 2005 , she said : `` Two years ago an event happened of which unfortunately the whole of France is aware . In 2005 , I met someone , I fell in love and I left . '' The French president , in Portugal for an EU summit , has declined to comment on his marriage breakdown . His divorce comes as he deals with crippling public sector strikes at home that have shut down much of France 's transit system . Cecilia Sarkozy was a smiling figure at her husband 's inauguration in May as she stood with the couple 's five children . But she said recently she did n't see herself as having any role at all as the president 's wife . For the French public , news of the divorce is unlikely to come as a shock . French presidents and their spouses have a long tradition of leading separate lives , even while carrying on the functions of state . Former President Francois Mitterrand not only lived apart from his wife , Danielle , but he maintained a secret second family that turned up in public only at his funeral . Jacques Chirac , who stepped down when Sarkozy was elected this year , hinted at a number of affairs . He and his wife lived largely separate lives , appearing together only at presidential functions . Nicolas Sarkozy said at the start of his term that he had no worries as president , except for his wife . E-mail to a friend .
French President Nicolas Sarkozy 's wife Cecilia says she did n't like spotlight . Former model said it was no longer possible to keep their marriage together . The split came after 11 years of marriage .