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Sarkozy has married secretly?

Paris: Amid swirling rumours of a secret marriage neither denied nor confirmed by the Elysee Palace, President Nicolas Sarkozy saw his popularity rating tumble to less than 50 per cent – a drop of 10 points in just two months. A survey showed that more French people disapprove of his performance than those who approve of it.

For the first time since his election in May, the poll by the BVA institute showed Mr. Sarkozy had a negative rating, with 48 per cent giving him the thumbs-down while 45 per cent continued to favour.

Pollsters said the drop was linked to his lack of performance on the economic front and to his very public display of his private life. The drop “may be linked to financial concerns as well as a value judgment on the presidential style,” said the polling institute BVA.

Some pollsters have suggested that photos of Mr. Sarkozy (52) vacationing with Ms. Bruni (40) in Egypt and Jordan have irked voters, who feel he has been neglecting their concerns.

The opposition has also been biting in its comments. “We have a President who lives like a millionaire and who has forgotten his campaign promises,” said opposition Socialist leader Segolene Royal.

With municipal elections in March tipped to be the first test of Mr. Sarkozy’s popularity since taking office, party members are showing signs of unease over the blanket coverage of their leader and his new girlfriend in the celebrity press. Few of Mr. Sarkozy’s supporters are willing to openly vent their opinions, but several say privately they are “angered”, furious” or “at a loss” over the President’s celebrity exposure.

“All of these headlines in celebrity magazines like Voici, Gala...it doesn’t sit well with the rightwing electorate,” commented a Minister, naming two big-selling celebrity magazines.

“I have heard a colleague say ‘my mother won’t vote for him any more’,” said a deputy in the governing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party. Journalists this week overheard a senior member in the corridors of the National Assembly discuss at length the striking resemblance between 40-year-old Bruni and 50-year-old Cecilia, before concluding that this was worrisome.

“This ‘tabloidy’ side is destabilising the image” of the presidency, said a deputy, who asked not to be named.

If the rumour about the secret wedding is true, it would hugely simplify things for India’s protocol department since Ms. Bruni is tipped to accompany the President who is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.

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