Sarkozy kept plan a near state secret

This was President Sarkozy’s third marriage

PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy went to elaborate lengths to keep his wedding to former supermodel Carla Bruni a near state secret until it was over, a Paris district mayor has revealed.

Sarkozy, 53, and the Italian Bruni, 40, were married on Saturday in a first floor reception room of the Elysee Palace, with about 20 relatives and close friends present, according to Francois Lebel, the local mayor who officiated.

The president’s third marriage again put him on front pages around the world because of his private life, a phenomenon which polls say is costing him support at home from voters who would rather he worked on France’s problems.

But it does allow Bruni to accompany Sarkozy on a state visit to Britain in March as France’s first lady. The couple will have tea with Queen Elizabeth II. Lebel, whose eighth arrondissement includes the Elysee Palace, explained the lengths taken to preserve the couple’s “discretion” as their whirlwind romance ended in an exchange of vows.

The presidency only confirmed the event several hours after it happened. Sarkozy also obtained special permission to hold the civil ceremony at the Elysee Palace instead of the town hall, which would normally be used.