(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in France are truly interested in their president’s current association with a former model, according to a poll by Ifop. 89 per cent of respondents think the relationship between Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni is a private matter.

In May 2006, Sarkozy, a centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) candidate and former interior minister, won the presidential run-off with 53.06 per cent of the vote. Sarkozy appointed François Fillon—who had been his adviser and presidential campaign leader—as prime minister.

In October, the president announced that his marriage of 11 years with Cécilia Sarkozy had ended. On Oct. 15, the Sarkozys had appeared before a judge in the Paris suburb of Nanterre and requested a divorce by "mutual agreement."

Last month, Sarkozy and Bruni visited Disneyland Paris and vacationed in Egypt. Former Socialist Party (PS) presidential candidate Ségolène Royal criticized the president, saying, "The people suffer while the King has fun. Mr. Sarkozy should stop provoking us with his ostentatious behaviour."

Revolutionary Communist League (LCR) co-founder Alain Krivine also expressed dissatisfaction, declaring, "Mr. Sarkozy can go where he chooses with whom he chooses but the amount of money spent and so publicly too is a true provocation, especially at a time when he is asking people to tighten their belts."

Polling Data

Do you think the relationship between Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni is a private matter or a public concern?

Source: Ifop
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 964 French adults, conducted from Dec. 18 and Dec. 19, 2007. No margin of error was provided.

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