The suggestion that the couple were both committing adultery first emerged on Twitter, the microblogging website. It was followed by a report in the Sunday newspaper le Journal du Dimanche. The first 'tweet' claimed that Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy had become romantically involved with Benjamin Biolay, a musician and a winner at France's recent Victoires de la Musique award
The suggestion that the couple were both committing adultery first emerged on Twitter, the microblogging website. It was followed by a report in the Sunday newspaper le Journal du Dimanche.
The first 'tweet' claimed that Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy had become romantically involved with Benjamin Biolay, a musician and a winner at France's recent Victoires de la Musique award
The full rumour says Sarko and Bruni have separated and each has found a new love, Bruni with singer-songwriter Benjamin Biolay, and Sarko with Ecology Minister and karate champion Chantal Jouanno.
Taking it as a pure rumour, and without recourse to "no smoke without fire", it above all means something that such a story can take root. Sarko is on the skids.
I find that uproariously funny.
Agnès Jaoui's next film, perhaps?
Are they true? According to one French magazine, L'Express, the rumour began as a hoax by a French trainee journalist. He wanted to see how easy it was to get an unverified assertion from the chat website Twitter on to random blogs and into the mainstream media. If so, he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. The Carla and Sarko "rumours" have appeared in newspapers in Britain and Italy and websites in the United States. The L'Express report of a hoax cannot be verified either. No one has yet come forward to claim the credit for starting the rumour rolling. Readers of The Independent will have to make up their own minds. Or at least listen to Ms Bruni-Sarkozy. As a result of the rumours, Sky News last night brought forward the release of an interview with her which was recorded this week but was to have been broadcast later this month. She was not asked directly about the rumours. But she was asked whether she feared that he might have affairs.
Are they true? According to one French magazine, L'Express, the rumour began as a hoax by a French trainee journalist. He wanted to see how easy it was to get an unverified assertion from the chat website Twitter on to random blogs and into the mainstream media. If so, he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. The Carla and Sarko "rumours" have appeared in newspapers in Britain and Italy and websites in the United States.
The L'Express report of a hoax cannot be verified either. No one has yet come forward to claim the credit for starting the rumour rolling. Readers of The Independent will have to make up their own minds. Or at least listen to Ms Bruni-Sarkozy. As a result of the rumours, Sky News last night brought forward the release of an interview with her which was recorded this week but was to have been broadcast later this month. She was not asked directly about the rumours. But she was asked whether she feared that he might have affairs.
Carla Bruni has done little to end speculation about her relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy by giving a half-hearted response when questioned about whether her marriage "was forever". In an interview with Sky News, the French first lady described her relationship as a "fairy tale" but went on to say she did not know how long it would last. While discussing her husband, she was asked: "Is he for keeps - is he forever?"
In an interview with Sky News, the French first lady described her relationship as a "fairy tale" but went on to say she did not know how long it would last.
While discussing her husband, she was asked: "Is he for keeps - is he forever?"
