Carla Bruni Scoots Through Paris as Sarkozy Heads to Prison
SHOCKING SCOOP: Carla Bruni Spotted Cruising Paris Streets on Scooter as Husband Nicolas Sarkozy Prepares for Prison
In a bizarre and seemingly carefree move, former First Lady Carla Bruni was spotted riding a scooter around the charming streets of Paris just days before her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy, is set to start his five-year prison sentence. The 57-year-old supermodel-turned-first-lady was seen wearing dark sunglasses and a sturdy helmet as she chatted with a companion on the cobblestone streets.
This recent sighting comes after the news that Sarkozy, 70, has been found guilty of criminal association in connection with a scheme to fund his 2007 presidential campaign with millions of euros from Libya. The former French president was accused of entering into a "Faustian pact of corruption" with the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who allegedly provided up to €50 million to bankroll Sarkozy's campaign.
Sarkozy has repeatedly denied the claims, calling them politically motivated and insisting that there is no proof he took Libyan money. However, a Paris court found him guilty in September, making him the first modern French head of state to face actual jail time.
As Bruni continues to make public appearances, it seems she's not letting her husband's impending prison sentence get her down. Last month, she was spotted rubbing shoulders with stars at a fashion show in Paris, where she posed for photos with fellow '90s model Linda Evangelista and actress Amber Valletta at Saint Laurent's show.
But behind the glamour and glitz, Bruni is also facing serious legal troubles of her own. She was charged in July 2024 with witness tampering and participating in a criminal association linked to the same Libyan financing scandal. Investigators allege that she took part in efforts dubbed "Operation Save Sarko" to influence or silence a key witness, Lebanese-French businessman Ziad Takieddine.
Prosecutors claim that Bruni helped facilitate contacts and communications designed to persuade Takieddine to retract his statements, including through intermediaries and coded phone numbers. She was placed under judicial supervision and banned from contacting other individuals involved in the case, except for her husband.
But don't worry, Bruni's biographer has it on good authority that she'll be visiting her husband every day while he's behind bars. "While she waits for her own fate to be decided," writes Lahouri in The Times, "Bruni... will move heaven and earth to get him out of prison as quickly as possible."
As Sarkozy prepares to start his term this week, likely in solitary confinement for his own security, the French media is buzzing with speculation about what's next. Reports suggest that current President Emanuel Macron secretly met with Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace last Friday, a move seen by some as an attempt to soften the blow of Sarkozy's imprisonment.
Meanwhile, France's justice minister Gérald Darmanin has weighed in on the situation, saying he'll be visiting Sarkozy in prison and concerned about his safety. But will it be enough to ease the tension between Macron's office and Sarkozy's camp?
As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: Carla Bruni's glamorous image has taken a hit with her husband's latest conviction. Will she be able to weather the storm and keep her reputation intact? Only time will tell.
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