London (PTI): Nicholas Sarkozy could become the first French leader to marry in office since Napoleon wed Josephine but it seems that the flamboyant President is paying a heavy political price for his affair with Carla Bruni.

According to a poll published in 'Le Figaro', public confidence in the French President has dipped to 49 per cent after hitting 64 per cent just six months back -- thanks to rumours generated by an internet blogger that Bruni's pregnant apart from reports that the couple had already married. Though Sarkozy's romance with the former supermodel appears to be a turn-off for the French public, one of Bruni's close friends, Christophe Barbier, feel otherwise.

"The President won't be able to resist the temptation to get a political and media advantage from staging a public wedding, especially if he's in difficulty politically with the upcoming municipal elections in March. The wedding represents a cartridge he won't want to waste," Barbier was quoted by 'The Sunday Telegraph' as saying.

He suggested May 16, the first anniversary of the day Sarkozy became President, as a possible wedding date although newspaper reports in Italy said the couple would get married on February eight either in Rome or Turin.

The 'Le Figaro' magazine has suggested that they might celebrate the marriage at 16th century Chteau de Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley. The Elyse Palace and the town hall of the 16th arrondissement have also been identified as possible locations for a civil ceremony -- the only option open to the twice-divorced President.