French President Nicolas Sarkozy's father has told a German newspaper that France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, is pregnant.

Pal Sarkozy said, "I'm glad to be having a grandchild," adding that neither the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, nor his wife "want to know the sex of the child, but I'm sure it's a girl who'll be as beautiful as Carla".

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A glossy showbiz magazine even claims that Carla is expecting twins in October. Pal Sarkozy

For weeks Bruni-Sarkozy has refused to confirm or deny a rumoured pregnancy, telling media she was protecting her family.

This week she appeared on a TV channel and again refused to be drawn, but the presenter still offered congratulations.
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One French celebrity magazine reported last week that Bruni-Sarkozy had gone to the high-street store H&M accompanied by a bodyguard and spent $300 on maternity clothes.

Carla will likely give birth in the autumn, months before the French presidential election in April and May 2012.
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Pollsters had predicted that a baby for Sarkozy, could give the unpopular president a five-point bounce in the opinion polls.
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Bruni-Sarkozy (43),u00a0already has a 10-year-old son from a previous relationship with a French philosopher. Sarkozy (56), has two sons in their 20s. Carla married Sarkozy 2008, three months after meeting him.