Sarko has popped the question, says Italian model’s mama

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has asked Carla Bruni to marry him, the Italian-born model's mother has hinted. On Monday, long-lens shots of Sarkozy and Bruni, 39, together at the Mickey Mouse Parade in Disneyland kicked-started the French rumour-mill. Now Ms Bruni's mother, Marisa Bruni Tedeschi, has told La Stampa newspaper that her daughter is considering Sarko's proposal. The paper says it has verified  Ms Bruni Tedeschi's claim with other sources. Fifty-two-year-old Sarkozy is said to have given Ms Bruni until New Year's Day to make a decision.
 
Ms Bruni Tedeschi, who is a former concert pianist, said: "I am very happy for my daughter... I'm very proud, but don't ask me to say more... We mamas always end up gossiping too much."
 
Sarkozy has recently been seen without the wedding ring he had continued to wear since his divorce from second wife Cecilia in October. He was the first French president to be divorced in office. At a press conference in the Camargue, he was asked about his love life, but refused to answer. Meanwhile, the French press has been quick to accuse Sarkozy of engineering positive publicity about himself after his image was damaged by an embarrassing state visit by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
 
The bad news for Sarko is that Ms Bruni recently told Le Figaro magazine that she is "desperately bored" by monogamy, adding: "I prefer polygamy and polyandry." She has also made headlines in the past with her choice of high-profile boyfriends, including singers Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton and business tycoon Donald Trump. And Bruni was among the celebrities who turned up at a concert in October to oppose a controversial new immigration law proposed by Sarkozy. ·