Carla Bruni confesses to 'no longer feel left-wing'

Two years ago Bruni had claimed she was "instinctively left-wing" after at one stage supporting her hubby's Socialist rival in the 2007 presidential elections. She even publicly opposed Sarkozy's plan to conduct DNA tests on immigrants. Now, in an interview with 'Le Parisien' newspaper, Bruni said her previous political persuasion was only due to her belonging to a "community of artists".

"We were bobo (bourgeois bohemians), we were left- wing but at that time I voted in Italy (her native country).

"I have never voted for the Left in France and I can tell you, I am not about to start now. I don't really feel left-wing anymore," the former Italian supermodel was quoted by 'The Daily Telegraph' as telling the French newspaper.

Bruni's reputation as a "luvvie Lefty" has been cited as a major handicap to Sarkozy's re-election in next year's presidential elections, when her husband is expected to stand for a second five-year term.

She said her political U-turn was down to the recent behaviour of the French Left. "I have heard Socialist officials say the same kinds of things as the National Front say, and I have been really shocked," she claimed. However, Bruni has denied being on the "campaign trail". President Sarkozy is yet to confirm he'll run in 2012.

"It is frankly up to him to choose what he wants to do in 2012. But of course if he does choose to stand, I'll be right there behind him," she said.