1st October 2008

For most men, the only thing that makes French politics interesting at the moment is its first lady, former supermodel Carla Bruni - heiress to the Italian tire manufacturing company CEAT. I don't know exactly what it is about her, but like Princess Diana in her time, she seems to entice paparazzi around the world by her elegance and that indefinable je ne sais quoi. During a state visit to Britain last March, the 40-year-old singer caused a sensation among publishers and television companies who fought to get an interview with her. Her elegant style received rave reviews from fashion stylists who hailed the Dior outfits she donned for the occasion. So, it's understandable that the French President, not wanting to miss a trick, will take the adorable Carla with him on his visit to Quebec this month. M. Sarkozy will attend the annual Canada-European Union summit in Montreal on the 17th and the Summit of the Francophonie - a club of about 50 French-speaking countries - in Quebec City the following day. Meanwhile, Sarkozy's colourful love life and reforming zeal is to be made into a big screen documentary by an American director, although the President does not yet know it apparently! Maybe Nicolas will agree to it in order to climb back in France's popularity polls. And as for Carla? Since her marriage to Nicolas in February, she has released her third pop album called Comme si de rien n'etait (As if nothing had happened). As if, indeed.