Carla Bruni a ‘modern-day Marie Antoinette’?

Under the headline Enough is enough, Marianne has lambasted the former Italian supermodel-turned-chanteuse for her continual preening and showing off, which has intensified in recent weeks as Bruni prepares to release her third album.

This is followed by everything from nude pictures of Bruni — released by Christie’s auction house on the eve of her state visit to Britain – to intimate interviews in which she discusses everything from her chequered love life to her Left-wing political instincts.

According to the journal, at a time when French President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to reform his country with a right-wing agenda, such images and meandering comments have made his wife look distinctly foolish, drawing comparisons with Marie Antoinette, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Like Marie Antoinette before her, Bruni considers herself to be one of the most beautiful woman in Europe, the French journal has said.

Nicolas Domenach, the author of the article, wrote: “The President himself seems to be saying at every opportunity ‘Isn’t she beautiful, isn’t she clever, doesn’t she sing well?’ And the public are getting tired of it.”

Commenting on the praise Bruni heaps on her husband – even claiming that he has “six brains” – he wrote: “Pass me the sick bucket!

“Can we imagine Bernadette Chirac or Danielle Mitterand (the wives of past Presidents, Jacques Chirac and Francois Mitterand respectively) gushing sugary compliments about their husbands?”

The author added: “They (the Sarkozys) are always pawing each other in public, which might be normal for newly weds, but he is the President and she is the First Lady – and they aren’t exactly young! The endless photos of Carla cosying up to Nicolas have become nothing more than a vulgar charade.

“Quite frankly it’s overkill and we can’t take any more. She is not so much a perfume but a very strong air freshener that we use to cover up unpleasant smells in public places.”