An adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted Monday as saying there was a likelihood that recent rumours concerning the private lives of the president and his wife were the result of a conspiracy, DPA reported.
The rumours that both Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, had lovers were published in early March on a blog posted by the respected weekly Le Journal du Dimanche and subsequently picked up by news publications around the world.
"We are going to see now if there was not some kind of organized conspiracy, involving even the movement of funds," Sarkozy's communications adviser Pierre Charon told the online news publication Rue89.
The Journal du Dimanche has filed a complaint with the police against unknown parties for computer information fraud.
In addition, the daily Le Monde reported that police hackers and internet specialists working for Sarkozy's office are tracking the electronic trail of the blog.
The Journal du Dimanche reported Saturday that several people close to Sarkozy suspect former Justice Minister Rachida Dati of being behind the rumours.
The weekly Le Canard Enchaine reported that Sarkozy himself suspects Dati because she has not forgiven him for forcing her out of the ministry to run for the European Parliament.
Last week, Dati suddenly lost use of the official car, security staff and mobile telephone that she had been allowed to keep after leaving the government.
But Charon said neither he or anyone else knew who was behind the rumours.
"That's the job of the police," he said.
Officials sleuthing after Sarkozy infidelity-rumour "conspiracy"
An adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted Monday as saying there was a likelihood that recent rumours concerning the private lives of the president and his wife were the result of a conspiracy.
