Do the French really have this attitude towards adultery?

Yes, absolutely. Powerful people - especially men, in general - have tons of women who'd like to sleep with them, and most (in my opinion) give in at some point, some more than others. Also, it's their private life, and it has nothing to do with how they rule a country or company.

In the 19th and 20th century, many wealthy and.or Aristocratic married to maintain status and the marriages were often loveless. It was common practice to take on a mistress, often a courtesan. The wives also took on lovers, and there were often hidden stairways with secret doors for lovers to use.

The novelist George Sand scandalized Catholic France with her novels depicting adultery, as did Flaubert with Madame Bovary.

The above scenarios were the exception rather than the rule; but many courtesans became famous. Coco Chanel was one.

Adultery is very common in all western countries

In France nobody (political figures or not) likes to be cheated and so, adultery is no more accepted than in any other western country. Except for the ones who do it, yet despite that, they don't accept this is done on them....

◘ Note: In France a man / woman), who is proven to cheat on his spouse / husband, will lose the divorce.

Childhood,puberty,adultery. The way of the world.

THAT YOU do not like it means YOU do not participate.

WHY is it any of your business who does what with whom in the bedroom?

Consenting adults is consent.

Being held hostage,forced, coerced,molested is just something else and a crime in most places.

Suggest you look into your history and think for a moment how a woman in the wild west, maybe after the civil war could become wealthy and pass on their fortune to the Grandchildren.

Does the occupation Madam seem more reasonable than laundry washer.

Some have for a term puritanical virtuous beliefs. OTHERS DO NOT.

You hear about the horrors those bad soldiers did as they crossed the land in war. GUESS WHAT your soldiers were not much better going the other direction.

The term "spoils of battle" comes to mind.

Correct the FRENCH have a different attitude. It is a real world one.

They are more concerned what the politician does while at work not his time off to cuddle.

The politicians spouse may not like it and get a divorce,

Only the US puritans seem interested in 24 hour activity of people.will little concern on if they actually do their job or not.

The CEO part. The shareholders do not care much. The spouse of the CEO may have a huge problem with it.

Our French neighbours have a far more grown-up attitude towards sexuality and sexual relations than most of us from Anglo-Saxon stock and conditioning.

In business and politics, we should concentrate on those matters that are relevant to business or politics and and worry less about what others had for dinner or whose company they enjoyed.

Adultery is not a crime in western countries.

Perhaps not quite as relaxed as you think, but certainly more realistic than our own culture.

So if it is considered O.K for a married man to "sleep around",I imagine that it would almost be considered strange if a single French man DIDNT sleep around!:)

My father lived in France for a few years and told me that yes, adultery is mostly accepted in the French culture. He told me he invited a French friend over for dinner once and he brought his wife, a week later he invited him over again and this time he brought his mistress. He didn’t say anything or ask questions. He asked another friend if this was normal and his friend said yes. If you told the wife about the mistress, it was considered rude. Every culture is different.