Ifop poll finds that 55 per cent of French men and 32 per cent of French women are unfaithful and that infidelity is on the rise but that the French are champions of forgiveness.
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© Photo: ALAMYThe majority of French men and a third of French women cheat on their partners, a new poll has found.

A majority of French men and a third of French women cheat on their partners, a new poll, has found indicating that infidelity is on the rise in France among both sexes.

In figures that could help explain why so many French are unfazed by the dalliances of their president, François Hollande, the Ifop study found that some 55 per cent of French men and 32 per cent of French women admit to cheating on their other halves.

Infidelity has been on the rise since the 1970s, when only around 19 per cent admitted to cheating, according to the study that was carried out for Gleeden, the extramarital dating website.

More than one in three French said they were prepared to cheat on their partners as long as they were sure they would not find out.

François Kraus of Ifop said: "One of the study's key findings is the enduring difference in perception of infidelity among men and women, with the latter much less accepting of dalliances than men." Two out of three French women consider a kiss is a form of cheating, while 57 per cent see sexting as being unfaithful.

The survey came days after revelations that Mr Hollande was having an alleged affair with Julie Gayet, a 41-year old actress, and fascination from abroad at how little the French claimed it interested them.

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Francois Hollande and Julie Gayet

The study also found that Left-wing French are more likely to cheat on their partners than those who identify themselves as on the Right.

Despite their apparent difficulty in practicing what they preach, most French people, 68 per cent, believe it is possible to remain faithful to one person for life.

It transpires they are also forgiving, as 63 per cent of French believe they can love someone even if he or she has cheated.

That high score tallies with a Pew Research Center study from 2013, which found that the French were the most forgiving of the 39 countries surveyed.