Affair

People who involve themselves in affairs do so out of the need for just sex, an intimate relationship, passionate attachment or a combination, which is often referred to as a "soul tie".

[2] The ability to pursue serial and clandestine extramarital affairs while safeguarding other secrets and conflict of interest inherent in the practice, requires skill in deception and duplicitous negotiation.

[4] Individuals having affairs with married men or women can be prosecuted for adultery in some jurisdictions and can be sued by the jilted spouses in others, or named as 'co-respondents' in divorce proceedings.

[6] In some countries like Iran, extramarital affairs (zinā) are considered serious offenses and can result in punishments such as flogging or, in some cases, stoning, depending on the evidence and circumstances.

In one notable case, Iran carried out the stoning of two men convicted of adultery in Mashhad, as confirmed by judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi.

The lawsuit claims that the third party’s actions disrupted the marital relationship, leading to the breakdown of affection between the plaintiff and their spouse.

[9] In some cases, extramarital affairs among the French elite and politicians have been regarded as private matters and have not significantly impacted their political careers.

For instance, François Mitterrand, former president of France, maintained a long-term relationship outside his marriage and fathered a daughter with his mistress.

[10] Public opinion surveys reveal that French society is notably more tolerant of extramarital affairs compared to other nations, particularly regarding the personal lives of political figures.

A 2013 Pew Research Center study highlighted that only 47% of French respondents considered infidelity morally unacceptable, making it the lowest rate among 39 countries surveyed.

Such findings reflect a significant cultural divergence in how private morality is perceived in public life.This tolerance is further underscored by a 2014 Pew Research Center report, which examined attitudes toward infidelity across eight European Union nations.

The report revealed a median disapproval rate of 65%, yet France again recorded the lowest level of moral condemnation among the surveyed countries.

It also shapes media coverage in France, where the press traditionally avoids delving into politicians' private lives unless directly relevant to their roles.