Recently divorced French President Nicolas Sarkozy is thinking of marrying his ex-supermodel and singer girlfriend next month, according to a French newspaper on Sunday.

Quoting unidentified sources, the weekly Le Journal Du Dimanche reported that Sarkozy, 52, gifted Carla Bruni a heart-shaped diamond engagement ring in December on a trip to Egypt over Christmas. He received a watch from the exclusive Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe in exchange. The newspaper also reported that the pair planned to get married on Friday, February 8 or more probably Saturday, February 9. The headline accompanies a photo of the two of them visiting the ancient site of Petra in Jordan at the weekend.

The presidential office declined any comment on this issue though. On the other hand, Carla’s mother Marisa Tedeschi Bruni told newspapers that the President had asked for her daughter’s hand.

“I said to him, ‘Monsieur le Président, I have no reason to refuse. Carla is living an authentic love story. I think that they make a good couple,’” she said.

The news of Sarkozy’s possible marriage ceremony coincided with an opinion poll in the daily Le Parisien, which showed a seven-point in Sarkozy’s approval ratings, due to concerns over the economy but also because his private life.

“The heavy media exposure of the president's personal life, affecting the function of the president, clearly offends traditional sections of government supporters. The fall among older people, who we know are attached to traditional values, is significant from this point of view,” said Stephane Rozes, head of the CSA polling institute, which carried out the survey.

Sarkozy and Bruni met at a party in November, just weeks after Sarkozy divorced his second wife, Cecilia and they made their love affair public in December when the President needed to distract attention from a hugely unpopular Paris visit by Libya’s Muammar Gadafy. Bruni’s previous conquests include Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and a former French socialist prime minister.

The French president is to give a press conference at the Elysee tomorrow and, hopefully, he will disclose some of his plans for this year. However, if he does marry in February, it will bring a new meaning to the president’s nickname Speedy Sarko.