Posted on 02/02/2008 7:34:00 AM PST by blam
France's Nicolas Sarkozy marries Carla Bruni
By Peter Allen in Paris
Last Updated: 3:04pm GMT 02/02/2008
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has married ex-supermodel Carla Bruni in a "secret" ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris.
The world watched the couple on holiday in Egypt
The wedding took place just two and a half months after they met, and three and a half months after he divorced his second wife.
They were married at 11am with François Lebel, mayor of Paris's fashionable 8th arrondissement - in which the palace is situated - officiating.
Mr Sarkozy, 53, and Miss Bruni, 40, exchanged vows in a state room on the first floor of the presidential palace after a highly-publicised whirlwind romance.
Mr Lebel said: "I married two voters from the 8th arrondissement, who live at 55 rue du Faubourg St Honoré," referring to the address of the palace, which is next door to the British Embassy.
"Historically, this is the first time in the history of the Republic that a president has married in the course of his term. It's the first time a president has married at the Elysée," he said.
"Carla married in white and looked ravishing," Mr Lebel added.
Now the controversial model, whose past loves include Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, will be France's First Lady.
Suggesting that the wedding was a last minute, spontaneous affair, Mr Sarkozy announced the cancellation of a visit to the military base at Creil, north of Paris, due for Saturday afternoon.
One of the reasons for the sudden marriage was apparently next month's planned state visit to Britain, with Mr Sarkozy concerned about being a guest of the Queen at Windsor Castle with only a "live-in lover" to accompany him.
Witnesses were Prada executive Mathilde Agostinelli - a close friend of the previous Madame Sarkozy - and Nicolas Bazire, managing director of Groupe Arnault and one of the richest men in France.
Also present was pop music guru Julien Civange and Farida Kelfa, a friend of Miss Bruni’s who works for Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Bernadette Chirac, the last First Lady of France before the retirement of her husband Jacques Chirac last year, said: "It’s great news. I send my very best wishes."
Mrs Chirac added that "having a companion was useful for anyone, including a president of the Republic", because she could be used "as a punch bag".
"Speedy Sarko", as the president is nicknamed, said last month: "There are strong chances that you will hear about it the wedding when it has already happened."
Mr Sarkozy's third marriage comes just three months after his divorce from Cécilia Ciganer-Albaniz, a former model and PR executive.
Three books have since been released on his former wife of 11 years, in which she paints her ex-husband in a highly unflattering light.
In one, she describes him as a "stingy philander" who loves "no-one, not even his own children".
In late November, Mr Sarkozy met Miss Bruni at a Paris dinner party, where she sang a song for him. They have been inseparable ever since.
The pair appeared before photographers at Disneyland Paris three weeks later, and have since been on sunshine breaks to Egypt and Jordan, where they were pictured gallivanting on beaches in their swimsuits.
Miss Bruni, now a successful singer who recently admitted to finding monogamy "boring", already has a room in the Elysée for herself where she can compose songs for her new album.
She has been seen sporting two large heart-shaped diamond rings bought by Mr Sarkozy as engagement gifts. One was almost identical to a ring he had bought for his former wife.
Marisa Tedeschi Bruni, Miss Bruni's mother, confirmed that the president had asked for her daughter's hand saying: "I said to him, 'Monsieur le Président, I have no reason to refuse.'"
She said: "Carla is living an authentic love story. I think that they make a good couple."
Mr Sarkozy's fast-track romance and trips in private jets to exotic locations with his new love have, according to several polls, been viewed with anger at a time of economic turmoil in France.
He has two grown up sons, Pierre and Jean, from a first marriage, and Louis, a 10-year-old son from his marriage to Cécilia.
The new Madame Sarkozy has a seven year old son, Aurélien, from a previous relationship.
Ick.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
You must admit, he did not pick a fillie that had never been out of the barn -— (chuckle)
Sarko, Sarko, Sarko....
I’ll wish them happy, but I feel for their kids.
The rules!!!!
I hope he has fun now, because he’ll regret it later.
The french sure are full of drama.
Much better.
"It's good to be da president."
What on Earth was this man thinking when he made the decision to marry such a woman?
Lower small brain thinking.
Bill is sooo jealous...
Such a hotie and he falls for another idiot.
This man has some real problems with his selection of women.
ping, you need a break today
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