Merkel to join Sarkozy on campaign trail / Sarkozy to bring in German-style reforms

Article reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised to join Nicolas Sarkozy on the campaign trail as the incumbent French President took to the airwaves on the 29 January 2012 to launch a set of German-style structural reforms aimed at seizing the initiative in his uphill re-election attempt.

The pledge by the German leader underscored the close ties she and Mr Sarkozy – together now habitually dubbed 'Merkozy' – have built during the eurozone crisis, despite clear tensions between them at times.

ESO: Background information: French presidential election, 2012 http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-presidential-election-2012/

Deutsche Welle, 29.1.12: Merkel to 'actively support' Sarkozy on campaign trail http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15701290,00.html

France24, 29.1.12: Sarkozy to announce new economic reforms http://www.france24.com/en/20120129-france-sarkozy-announce-new-economic-reforms-jobs-competition-eurozone-crisis

ESO: Background information: Hollande vows to raise taxes for rich and banks http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-vows-to-raise-taxes-for-rich-and-banks/

Deutsche Welle, 27.1.12: Merkel and Sarkozy forge unlikely - and unequal - partnership http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15665746,00.html

BBC News, 30.1.12: Sarkozy announces French financial transaction tax http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16783520

The Local.fr, 30.1.12: Sarkozy hikes taxes in pre-election gamble http://www.thelocal.fr/2412/20120130/

EUObserver, 30.1.12: Merkel to back Sarkozy's re-election bid http://euobserver.com/9/115061

Le Monde / Le Figaro / La Croix / Libération, 2.2.12: Sarkozy fascinated by German model (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/1473991-sarkozy-fascinated-german-model

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