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Bruni says she and Sarkozy haven't tied the knot—yet

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 22, 2008 7:52 PM CST

(Newser) – Carla Bruni has not yet become Mrs. Nicolas Sarkozy. In an interview with Liberation, the French president's ex-model girlfriend also made life easier for Indian officials by saying she won't accompany Sarkozy on his upcoming official trip there. Protocol-meisters in the conservative country, where unmarried couples are unusual, weren't sure how to treat the First Girlfriend.

"I cannot take part in an official trip," Bruni said. Speculation had swirled that if the unmarried couple traveled to India, the president might announce their engagement at the Taj Mahal. Romantic as that is, a recent poll shows that Sarkozy's popularity in France is waning, and ex-PM Francois Fillon is better liked, reports the London Times.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, carries an unidentified child on his shoulders, as he walks with his girlfriend, supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni, right, during a tour of the ancient Jordanian... (Associated Press)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his girlfriend Carla Bruni and her young son visit Petra, January 5 2008. (Getty Images)

The cover of L'Express news magazine showing French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his girl friend, Italian singer Carla Bruni, titling 'The president people' is seen at a news kiosk near the Palais Royal,... (Getty Images)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his new girlfriend - supermodel-turned singer Carla Bruni, left, looking back at photographers, admire a view of the Giza Pyramids at sunset in Cairo, Egypt Sunday,... (Associated Press)

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