Carla Bruni has said that she does not want President Sarkozy to run for a second term in 2012 because she fears for his health under the pressure of the job.

In an interview published yesterday Ms Bruni, 42, also said that she despised media that published unsubstantiated rumours this month about her marriage with the French President.

The singer and model said that the “media-political world” was brutal towards her husband. “The balance, happiness and health of my man are serious subjects. I am going through this moment of life with a lot of worry.”

Asked if she wanted Mr Sarkozy, 55, to run for the next presidential election in April 2012, she said: “As a wife, I don’t really want him to. Perhaps I am afraid he will let his health go. Perhaps I wish to live what time we have left in some peace?”

Mr Sarkozy has suffered one of the worst weeks of his time in office, raising speculation about the future of his presidency. Voters signalled their displeasure with his administration by routing his Union for a Popular Movement in national regional council elections this month, and his poll ratings are near record lows. The cover of yesterday’s Le Point, a leading news magazine, was devoted to “The Tragedy of Sarkozy”.

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