Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s diminutive ex-president, has prompted national mirth after he was featured towering over his tall supermodel wife Carla on the front cover of this week’s Paris Match magazine.

“Sarko” as the French call the 64-year-old, was posing for the glossy weekly days after the release of his new autobiography, Passions, which has shot to the top of the bestseller list.

The conservative French ex-head of state beams at the camera a good head and shoulders above his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, 51, who nuzzles his neck despite the fact that he stands at 1.66m (5ft5in) and she is almost 10cm taller at 1.75m (5ft9in). 

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The image prompted a series of mocking photoshopped montages involving step-ladders and platform shoes before Paris Match issued a statement to deny any stage-management of the picture.

"Some people were surprised to see Nicolas Sarkozy taller than his wife Carla Bruni," the magazine confessed, adding that the front cover image had been taken in June on steps outside the couple’s home.

"In the image chosen for the cover, Nicolas Sarkozy was on the higher step than his wife," it added.

Mr Sarkozy has form when it comes to maximising his height. 

In one notorious factory visit in 2009 when president, workers said they were hand-picked to stand behind him “along height grounds” so that none overshadowed their pint-sized leader.

His penchant for stack heels has been well-documented as is his habit of standing on hastily installed boxes when making speeches at the UN or next to lanky leaders such as ex-American president Barack Obama.

However, “Sarko” is by no means alone in seeking a vertical boost.

Last month, France and America narrowly avoided a diplomatic incident after a behind-the-scenes row over D-Day commemorations near Omaha beach in Normandy.

Officials spent two days arguing after President Emmanuel Macron reportedly expressed concern he would look ridiculous on a stage set for the far taller Donald Trump. 

The US president is 6ft 2in (1.88m) and has belittled smaller opponents, calling Kim Jong-un “Little Rocket Man” and Marco Rubio “Little Marco”. He wanted a lectern that would come up to his midriff and a microphone on a long extension.

Mr Macron, 5ft 8in complained he would have to stand on tip-toe to reach the microphone. After intense negotiations, it was agreed that Mr Macron would speak first, giving time for aides to make the required adjustments and add a US logo to the lectern.

The Sarkozys’ front-page article comes as the ex-leader has returned to the forefront of French public life after quitting politics in 2016 when his bid to become the presidential candidate for his rightwing Republicans party failed.

The release last week of Passions, a 360-page autobiography which charts the conservative’s rise to power in 2007, came days after judges confirmed that Mr Sarkozy will become the first ex-French president to be tried for corruption and abuse of power.