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