Bruni royalties to go to charity

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy plans to give all royalties from forthcoming album Comme Si De Rien N'Etait to charity.

In her second major interview since marrying President Nicolas Sarkozy, the 40-year-old singer and model said she wanted to mix her roles as a first lady and popstar.

"I am going to try to use this position for something fundamental," she told the left-wing La Libération newspaper.

She added that, despite her husband’s centre-right politics she remained left-wing.

The album release date has been brought forward ten days to July 11.

While she does plan on performing on TV, the singer said she would not play any live concerts because of security concerns.

“I cannot have myself dragging along a security infrastructure; that is, in my opinion, shocking,” she said.

"I will resume doing concerts when my husband is no longer president of the republic."

Bruni said she would follow the traditional role of humanitarian work in her position as first lady.

“For myself, I would never dare to do things that would shock people and break from traditions," she added.

Italian by birth, Bruni said that while she has yet to become a naturalised French citizen "the procedure is long for everybody" she nevertheless considers herself French.

On life in the Elysée Palace, she said: "I use my husband's secretarial staff. I have an office, a place in the private section of the Elysee. The women are put in the private section. It's not a very clear situation."

Photo: Afp