| It's just what France (and the world) | | | | scene it was often the justice minister |
| has been waiting for - the real story | | | | who appeared at the side of the |
| behind the marriage of the French | | | | president at official functions after |
| president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and his | | | | the break up of his marriage to his |
| third wife Carla. | | | | second wife, Cecilia. |
| And that's exactly what it's going to | | | | But the current first lady denies that |
| get on Thursday - apparently - with the | | | | there is any rivalry between her and |
| release of a new book "La Véritable | | | | Dati in spite of what the media might |
| Histoire de Carla et Nicolas". | | | | maintain. |
| On the whole since their marriage, | | | | "I see her quite often and she makes me |
| Bruni-Sarkozy has remained pretty | | | | laugh a lot," says Bruni-Sarkozy. |
| tight-lipped, gorgeously appearing at | | | | "These rumours must have their source in |
| her husband's side on state occasions | | | | the fact that she is a close friend of |
| and uttering the occasional "Hmmmn" and | | | | the president's former wife. But there |
| "Delicious." Indeed the only interview | | | | really is no hostility between us." |
| she has granted so far was to the weekly | | | | As to her future and role as first lady, |
| news magazine "L'Express" shortly after | | | | Bruni-Sarkozy reveals that she has set |
| their marriage in February. | | | | herself the goals of campaigning against |
| But now she is "telling the story as it | | | | poverty and ignorance, but she's not |
| really is" in a book written by two | | | | going to give up her music career. |
| journalists, Valérie Bénaïm and Yves | | | | "I have a role to fulfil but it isn't my |
| Azérouai. And it promises to make | | | | metier," she insists. |
| fascinating reading as it reportedly | | | | "I am not just a folk singer. I tell |
| contains approved material from the | | | | stories which are the same as everybody |
| first lady herself in which she sets | | | | else's. There's nothing subversive in |
| straight some of the rumours that have | | | | that." |
| been circulating ever since the couple | | | | The excerpts that have so far appeared |
| met, fell in love and tied the knot. | | | | in the press would seem to suggest that |
| The first tantalising snippets have | | | | the book gives a certain "spin" on |
| already appeared in the French press, | | | | events. Whether anyone really thinks |
| from which we learn that the two did in | | | | that an expectant public will completely |
| fact meet at a dinner organised by the | | | | believe everything that's written is |
| publicist Jacques Séguela in November | | | | perhaps a little hard to imagine. |
| last year, and Carla quickly realised | | | | Doubtless though these gems and others |
| that they had both in fact been set up | | | | will make the book a bestseller. The |
| on a blind date of sorts. | | | | Carla-Nicolas story is after all is one |
| "There were three couples and us - two | | | | everybody loves to pretend they're not |
| single people," she says. "I had never | | | | really interested in. |
| expected someone so funny, so lively. I | | | | That has been proven on countless |
| was seduced by his physique, his charm | | | | occasions over the last six months. |
| and his intelligence." | | | | Whenever a picture of either or both has |
| So that's one rumour that has been doing | | | | been slapped on the cover of a magazine, |
| the rounds well and truly confirmed - by | | | | a boost in sales has been guaranteed. |
| Carla herself. That'll doubtless come as | | | | And Sarkozy has also been a profitable |
| a blesséd relief to all the gossip | | | | subject for many a publisher with more |
| columnists and Sarkozy-watchers who | | | | than 70 books written about him in the |
| would seem to have been (accurately) | | | | past year. |
| reporting very much the same thing right | | | | Only a cynic would dispute the need for |
| from the start. | | | | yet another one, especially one in which |
| Another rumour though, that | | | | the principle figure and source is the |
| Bruni-Sarkozy enjoys less than a warm | | | | first lady herself. |
| relationship with the justice minister, | | | | So go on, rush out and buy your copy |
| Rachida Dati, is one she unsurprisingly | | | | tomorrow, while stocks last. And don't |
| sets out to scotch. | | | | forget Bruni-Sarkozy's album is released |
| Before Bruni-Sarkozy appeared on the | | | | next month - July 21 to be precise. |