French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his supermodel wife Carla Bruni are planning their first child together, a close personal friend of the couple has revealed.

According to reports, the French president's millionaire pal Jacques Seguela broke the news to France's leading celebrity magazine Voici.

Advertising tycoon Seguela introduced the 54-year-old Sarkozy to the 41-year-old former supermodel at a Paris dinner party two years ago.

"Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni very much want to have a child. Carla has already said so several times, otherwise I would not be allowed to say this. Everyone knows about it now. They are a young couple, and like all young couples, they want to start a family," said Seguela.

Sarkozy, who already has three children from two previous marriages, believes that having a baby will boost his chances of winning the next presidential election in 2012.

"It seems the president feels that due to his age, if he doesn't have a child now, it will be too late. He also believes that such a happy event could be a vote winner in 2012," an insider at the magazine said.