How Sarko seduced me, by Carla Bruni

It's time for another episode in the Sark-opera. The first well-informed book on President Sarkozy's speed romance and marriage with Carla Bruni, the Italian supermodel-singer, is out tomorrow.

There are no bombshells but a few tasty anecdotes in Carla et Nicolas, La Véritable Histoire. Bruni talked to the two authors, Valérie Benaim and Yves Azéroual. She covers some past lovers, her career and her coup de foudre for the newly divorced president when they met on a blind date at a dinner party last November. Interesting dirt is dished against Rachida Dati, the Justice Minister and Sarko protégée, whom the authors depict as jealous of Bruni's arrival (more later).

Bruni, a member of the rich, leftwing arts world, did not think much of the philistine president but was curious to meet. She was immediately smitten by Sarko on arriving at the home of Jacques Séguéla, the veteran advertising man, for their dinner.

"It all happened suddenly. I wasn't expecting someone so funny, so full of life. I was seduced by his physique, his charm and his intelligence," she says. "He has five or six brains which are remarkably irrigated."

Bruni, who was said to be "quite tipsy", asked Sarko to drive her home. He left her at her door but next day, on November 14, he visited her for dinner and "under the immense glass ceiling of the bedroom, they got to know and discover each other better," write the authors.

Further details of the famous dinner: When she reported the invitation to Raphael Enthoven, the philosopher and father of her son, from whom she had recently separated,  "he rolled his eyes when I pronounced the name of Nicolas Sarkozy" (Bruni's sister Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, the actress-director, also cannot stand Monsieur le Président, we learn).

Also at the six-person dinner was Luc Ferry, a recent Education minister who is another of Bruni's many  conquests. Ferry is quoted as listing his place in Bruni's past as "between Laurent Fabius and Mick Jagger." Fabius is a former Socialist Prime Minister. Ferry filmed the Sarkozy-Bruni dinner on his telephone video camera, the book says.

"Carlita" describes how they rushed to marry in February, on the advice of Bernadette Chirac, the last first lady, so that she could accompany Sarko on his state visit to Britain in March.

A few days before the wedding, the future bride took fright over the prospect of being cut off by her anti-Sarko friends in the arts and media. "The pressure is enormous. I am afraid of losing everyone who has supported me up to now," she told a journalist friend, according to the authors.

Bruni, who is to release a new album of pop-folk songs next month, says that she would continue to compose and record.  "What is going to change is that I won't be performing on stage....But it's not as if I was a stage animal like Janis Joplin or the Rolling Stones. And Madonna is about to start a tour at her age. I've still got time."

The free-thinking Bruni voices her distaste for Silvio Berlusconi, her country's Prime Minister, who is sometimes seen as an Italian Sarkozy. When Bertrand Delanoe, the Socialist Mayor of Paris made the comparison, she said she immediately telephoned to protest. "Berlusconi is a businessman who does politics. Nicolas is a real politician...I have not felt good since he was elected Prime Minister," she says.

As first lady, Bruni aims to work .... you guessed... to relieve poverty and "against ignorance". She recently lunched in Paris with Sarah Brown, the British Prime Minister's wife, to discuss work with her White Ribbon association for safe childbirth, she told le Point magazine.

Bruni's presence has done wonders for Sarkozy, bringing him peace after the turbulent months of his divorce from Cécilia, the wife who left him last October, according to the book. The première dame denies reports that she has a deal with Nicolqs in which he would not seek re-election in 2012 and she would return to public performance. She also says that she does not like ageing. "I miss being a girl but I would like to stay sexy and seductive." 

Rachida Dati, the glamour figure in Sarkozy's cabinet is said to have resented a romance that ended her closeness to the president. Bruni denies any trouble in the book, but others tell the authors of revealing incidents. Walking through the Elysée Palace with Dati, Bruni pointed to the presidential bed and joked to her: "You would have really liked to have been in it, wouldn't you?", according to the authors. Dati was also told after the February wedding to stop telephoning the president early in the early morning.

Dati is suffering from a streak of bad news, much of it self-inflicted. She annoyed Sarko and his party by mishandling the case of the virgin bride (see weekend post) and she lost her temper with an emotional attack against the Socialists in parliament on Tuesday. The media are speculating on the imminent downfall of the former favourite.

Sarkozy took the unusual step of renewing his support for her at a Cabinet Meeting today, saying that she was the victim of a "media lynching". Watch this space for the next episode.

Comments

[Daisy]

Five or six brains? Hmm, does that mean five or six egos too?

[Fernandez]

I'm confused - Did Luc Ferry film the first dinner party with Jacques Seguela or the next night's that ended under the glass ceiling?

I'm assuming the former but wouldn't be too surprised if it were the latter. (This could be the sequel to the Pamela and Tommy Lee tape.)

I'm guessing the 2nd dinner was just Sarko & Carlita at her place.

[Jorg Andersen]

This Sarkozy-Bruni romance is still a bit implausible. She is a self-confessed maneater who boasted last year about her belief that love does not last more than a few weeks. "I could never be monogamous". His wife walked out on him and one month later he is "falling in love" with this self-described free-spirited artist. And we are supposed to believe that it's the perfect lov story.

[Fernandez]

"How Sarko seduced me, by Carla Bruni."

It sounds like he just showed up for dinner. (And, apparently, was the only man in the room she hadn't slept with!)

[Marguerite.]

Elle a beau dire qu'elle a ete seduite par l'intelligence et la vitalite de Sarkozy, elle m'a l'air pas mal arriviste cette Carla !
Est-ce qu'elle va reussir a faire partir Rachida Dati ?
Femmes entre elles...
"La suite au prochain numero."

[Francois D]

Dati is a courageous woman. Her position about wedding's judgement was difficult to understand but she spoke as defensor of the law. Look at this page (see video), yesterday, at National Assembly, when she was attacked by Socialists deputies.

http://www.lepost.fr/article/2008/06/03/1202195_mariage-annule-quand-rachida-dati-raconte-sa-propre-histoire.html#xtor=RSS-30

That would not be a good thing if she was obliged to leave government because it would be a very negative message towards suburbs, in particular towards girls, often very courageous (more than boys) and hard-working with a will to succeed and that she symbolizes.

Sarko was yesterday in Italy: has he gone with Carlita?

[Onion Johnny]

HELP ! HELP ! Joséphine and Sarkoléon are Back ! Where are Wellington and Nelson when you need them ?
At least, l'Hyperprésident has good taste concerning women, a pity he can't choose any capable ministers... Well nothing is perfect in that world. But he surely beats Charles and Camilla. To be fair I would say that it is quite easy...

[azloon]

How Sarko Seduced Me

'asked Sarko to drive her home. He left her at her door'

that was the clincher

what a seductive devil he is !!

and well-irrigated (whatever the hell that is?)

[Romain]

I wonder if Sarkozy has six everything . He only made three children with three wives, so far...

[Daniel Strohl]

DAISY,

"Five or six brains? Hmm, does that mean five or six egos too?"

LOL !

It could be even worse - there is an ancient legend saying that cats have 7 or even 9 lifes. It does normally not apply for a président de la république; but who knows?

[Ray Massart]

Six brains! What a shame that Carla omitted to desribe the other exceptional attributes of Sarko's presidential anatomy.

[john o'doe]

According to Seguéla, a confused Carla phoned him the next morning to complain that serial philanderer Sarko had taken her home but hadn't stayed the night.

[christopher muir]

It seems odd that Bernadette Chirac was encouraging Sarkozy to marry Carla. I thought that there were tensions between the Chiracs and Sarkozy going a long way back. Nice to know that all's been patched up.

[Daisy]

Didn't he have a kid with Anne Fulda or was that just rumour?

[Robert Marchenoir]

"Bruni, a member of the rich, leftwing arts world." (CB)

Indeed. I think she got away with that a bit too easily.

Please point to me a French editorialist or intellectual (of which there is no shortage) who has made fun about the flimsiness and vanity of her left-wing political convictions. And who has made the (correct) assumption that these qualities are matched by many of her former, high-visibility left-wing friends.

If there has been one, I have missed him.

After all, here is a woman who, just a few months before falling for Sarkozy, sang in a rally against the president's immigration policy, where the vilest attacks were made against him.

One has to wonder about her honesty then -- and now.

It is not as if she had suddenly Seen the Light, Amended her Ways, and resolved to shut up about politics.

No: she insists on vilifying Berlusconi, who, if you listen to the French liberals, is just a wee bit on the left of Hitler.

Never mind that Sarkozy's and Berlusconi's politics are, roughly, in the same league.

There is only one case where Carla Bruni could be considered a decent woman: if it finally came out that Sarkozy is, in fact, left-wing.

Which, if you ask me, is a distinct possibility.

[JJ]

Did Rachida Dati "lose her temper" during the filmed extract? If so, that is not my idea of losing self-control! On the other hand, the Socialists showed themselves to be a bunch of louts.

[dot king]

"I thought that there were tensions between the Chiracs and Sarkozy going a long way back"
Christopher Muir

There is some quite well-known news film which shows NS and Bernadette standing close together at some function or other and she says quietly to him "heureusement qu'on vous a".
So maybe the enmity is more between the male egos than anything else. NS has been less than encouraging towards Chirac recently, the latter in his "times of trouble" as it were.
Mme C was - is - always diplomatic, très posée and so on, but I always thought she didn't quite manage to disguise un certain "agacement muët" envers son mari.

If the quotation by Carlita to Rachida concerning the presidential bed is true, then Carlita shows a tremendous lack of savoir vivre; we all know she's got him, no need to rub anyone's nose in the nuptial sheets (blancs ou non).

[qwerty]

Luc Ferry? He too? Hmmm. He once featured in a weird dream I had, running naked all over the place. Still can't figure out why I dreamed of him. He must have hidden charms only discernible to the unconsciousness.

[azloon]

"La Veritable Histoire"

so obviously it isn't (you don't have to flaunt the truth)

carlita takes a bite of ultimate aphrodisiac: power

dropping her off at her place (did sarko get out of the limo?) obviously just whetted her appetite.

[Mary Fernandez]

I guess we can give up any illusions that she had 'CLASS'.

The marriage will last as long as Sarko's friends keep putting her on magazine covers. When attention to Carlita dries up, her divorce petition will claim Nico has half a brain and one testicle.

Sadly, I think he's head over heels for her.

[dot king]

"dropping her off at her place (did sarko get out of the limo?) obviously just whetted her appetite."

I'm sure I heard somewhere that he said "never on the first date" or something very original to the same effect.

[dot king]

Charles, when connecting up by click via "world news" the photo of Carlita in the column looks very much like Cécilia IMO, is it on purpose?

[Daisy]

DOT: Maybe Carla made the comment to Rachida to convince herself that a short guy in high heels (who isn't Prince) is some sort of catch that other women want and she's not the loser that got stuck with him.

ROBERT M: Maybe Carla is trying to present herself as a 'left wing' as she thinks it makes her appear more intellectual. After all, she has to keep up with Old Five Brains.

MARY: maybe he's just pleased he scored a supermodel.

Chirac is probably cosying up to Old Five Brains in an effort to make sure there are no more investigations into his corrupt doings. Maybe I'm just cynical...

[stephen Bull]

Luc Ferry was apparently between Mick J and Laurent Fabius, but it was only once and his wife has forgiven him and was the godmother of Carla'a son.

[Limey]

Salut a tous! (long-time reader, first-time poster)

Oh my goodness, I thought the line "under the immense glass ceiling of the bedroom, they got to know and discover each other better" to be so cheesy and cringe-worthy.
Anyway, aren't glass (mirror?) ceilings a bit tacky these days? :)

[nata]

Daniel Steel must be very jealous while reading this book:-)Sometimes I can not believe that one women is able to seduce so many different famous men in France... or maybe all around the world?.

(Luc Ferry was apparently between Mick J and Laurent Fabius, but it was only once) Does it mean, that it was not so awful? I am sure, it doesn´t.
(his wife has forgiven him and was the godmother of Carla'a son.)
Isn´t it strange? That s great, that she has forgiven him, but to become a godmother of her son?
I really don t understand it.....

[christopher muir]

Dot King -
I'm relying on a shaky memory, but believe that I read, a few years ago, about the considerable tensions between the Chiracs and Sarko. These disagreements prompted Bernadette to explode and utter a line worthy of Feydeau: "And to think that he (Sarko) has even seen us in our dressing gowns!"

[Romain]

She probably wanted to compete with Luc Ferry's wife, who is very beautiful.

[qwerty]

Agree with JJ on Rachida Dati at the Assemblée: she was being mobbed by the members of the PS (Aynault en tête) in the extract I saw. Montebourg, funnily enough, did not seem to be taking part in all this (I've previously seen him with a méprisant expression in the same Assembly when RD had the pulpit). You could see the worst instincts of the deputies surfacing in their faces: machism, racism, collectively and cowardly hitting someone who's down. Practically a gang bang. This seems to be one of the disgusting sides of politicians (there are others).

If someone filmed those snarling faces at length and cut off the sound, you'd get a similar result to that film someone once made of grinning zoo-visitors as seen by the monkeys through the bars.

Notwithstanding this unspeakable treatment, I don't think Dati is up to her job, that she's there because of favours and influence of Sarkozy's ex-wife, and that her "relooking" and trips to Dior totally discredit and decredibilize her.

[Doremi]

The tele-books-tabloids-novela still going on.
Did Mrs Chirac and Mrs de Merteil get together I wonder.

Mrs Chirac advised Nicholas to get married so they could visit the Queen according to Carla.
She told the man who betrayed her husband, seduced and dumped her daughter to marry a slut, a stealer of husband's, the type of women that other women hate, who had more affairs than hot dinners, whose sexual-attention span is rather short so the couple could parade in front of royalty. Do you think this is a normal behaviour from a long-term femme bafouée who stewed in her own unhappiness for too long or a revenge dish taken from the chilled cabinet?
Bet you that wherever she is, Pamela Churchill Harriman must be looking at Carla and saying " that's my girl".

[dot king]

Christopher Muir: don't care how shaky your memory is - that's a great line!

Qwerty: that's an accurate summing-up of hémicycle behaviour. Vu à la télé.

[dot king]

"He once featured in a weird dream I had, running naked all over the place." Qwerty on Luc Ferry

Hmm, veeeree interessssstink . . .
Vaire you chasink or beink chaste? :)

[JJ]

Vidia Naipaul found a good neologism which nicely sums up Doremi: "infy".

[Doremi]

It was Mrs de Merteuil sorry.

Vidia Naipaul found a good neologism which nicely sums up Doremi: "infy".

Pardon?

[dot king]

Vidia Naipaul found a good neologism which nicely sums up Doremi: "infy".

Pardon?

DOREMI

Yes, I was wondering too. Do tell JJ.

[ChaztheCrusader]

Islam is a brutal and cruel ideology, less a religion than a totalitarian political movement that seeks to enslave the entire planet with its barbarity. Immigration must be stopped! Let the deportation of these seditious immoral monsters begin!

[dot king]

Chazthecrusader

Charles were you having a snooze or an apérifif when that got through? [No, Dot. Even though it's Friday and I'm having an aperitif, I thought it's part of the debate, even if it's a bit borderline. CB]

[dot king]

Charles, which debate is it part of? This is "How Sarko seduced me" by Carla Bruni".
Borderline to what?

"Islam is a brutal and cruel ideology, less a religion than a totalitarian political movement that seeks to enslave the entire planet with its barbarity. Immigration must be stopped! Let the deportation of these seditious immoral monsters begin!"

I don't care for the presidential couple much, but I don't recognise even their worst points in the above!

[Mary Fernandez]

Dot -

Carla's an immigrant. An immoral monster? (He'll think so during the divorce!)

Well, that's the best I could do to find a connection. :-)

I'm having a harder time with the "infy" comment...

[azloon]

[Even though it's Friday and I'm having an aperitif, I thought it's part of the debate, even if it's a bit borderline. CB]

the comments about islam seem marginally apropos of anything that has appeared here recently, but thank you, Charles, for letting it go through. your sound journalistic judgement clearly is unaffected by alcohol.

for those interested in the extreme islamist movement (not all muslims are islamists, mercifully), and how violence seems to flow, not unnaturally, from the teachings of islam, read Lawrence Wright's piece in the June 2nd, issue of the New Yorker. Wright won a pulitizer prize last year for his book, 'the looming tower: al-qaeda and the road to 9/11.

you will not be very encouraged about the prospects for a peaceful world after reading it, i'm afraid.

[dot king]

Mary:
"infy" might be "it's not for you" or "I'm not for you" (but I don't know - it could be way more interesting than either)

Since "Chaz" is often the shortened version of "Charles" in English, I think perhaps our favourite journalist (chazthecrusader) DID have an apéro too many, thought he was the automatic robot he prevents us all from being, and slipped this inflammatory post in to perplex us. :)

['fraid not, Dot. The anti-islam Chaz has never left a comment here before, at least as far as the technology can show. He has a US IP address. CB]

[JJ]

Surely you know Naipaul, the first of three British writers to win the Nobel Prize for Literature this century? "Infy" is an abbreviation not an anagram. For more information see the masterly new biography of Sir Vidia by Patrick French (or - with a large pinch of salt - Theroux's "In Sir Vidia's Shadow").

[dot king]

JJ what V S Naipaul?
Still no nearer, unless it's short for infidelity . . .

[Daniel Strohl]

Hereafter a link to a poll giving some information regarding the French's opinion on Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy :

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2008/06/07/01011-20080607FILWWW00545-sondage-flatteur-pour-carla-bruni.php

PS : a majority of my compatriots seem to be more open-minded than some posters above :))

[dot king]

Daniel - that's interesting, she's more popular than hubby :)

[Mary Fernandez]

Daniel -

Their opinion may suffer a precipitous drop after her album comes out. :-)

BTW, she apparently has a 'vulcanic temper':

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4087277.ece

------------
Dot:

infy =

I'm not from Yonkers

I never follow yogis

Islam's not for you (by Chaz)

It's Nico's femme, Yoko! (title of the new album)

[Daniel Strohl]

Mary Fernandez,

"Their opinion may suffer a precipitous drop after her album comes out. :-)"

I don't think so, since they are already vaccinated through previous albums ... :-)

PS : there are still many active volcanoes in Italy, as well as in many other countries :-)

[Doremi]

JJ
Come again? And don't call me Shirley

S Naipaul is according to Paul Theroux "a cheap, mean-spirited misogynist and cantankerous man with a fondness for prostitutes". In Mr French's biography we learn he was a all round shit to his wife Patricia and his mistress, bet the prostitutes did not have good time either if he is cheap. The guy got a new wife, but he is a Nobel prize winner and sycophants are not bothered because you need to break eggs to make an omelette.

If this charming individual would describe me as "infy" could I take it as a compliment?

Daniel,
My compatriots love women who can't sing but look good in the tiniest of outfit giving off the promise of spectacular sex without the boring bits associated with a nagging wife. Put Adjani on, see how the dog reacts.

[dot king]

DOREMI "don't call me Shirley" LOL

as JJ won't just come out and tell us about "infy" then I think we'd better get this man to a hospital . . .
(over to you for the réplique)

[JJ]

If you won't read the books I suggested, I suppose I shall have to spell it out: "infy" is VSN's term for "inferior".