Analysis: Sarkozy, Hollande snipe at EU to woo voters

To a visitor from Mars, France's presidential election must seem a bizarre contest between candidates waging largely artificial battles with Europe before an electorate of economic illiterates. Analysis feature.

• Primary Source

Toute l'Europe: L'Europe dans la présidentielle 2012 http://www.touteleurope.eu/fr/organisation/etats-membres/eml-europe-dans-la-presidentielle-2012em/presentation.html

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

ESO: Background information: Hollande calls for ECB growth mandate http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-calls-for-ecb-growth-mandate/

ESO: Background information: Sarkozy makes populist push for re-election http://www.europeansources.info/record/sarkozy-makes-populist-push-for-re-election-new-poll-gives-sarkozy-first-round-lead-sarkozy-under-fire-on-border-control-call/

Toute l'Europe, 16.3.12: Touteleurope en débat : L'Europe dans la campagne présidentielle http://europarlement.touteleurope.eu/vivez/actualites/details-actualite/actualite/touteleurope-en-debat-leurope-dans-la-campagne-presidentielle.html

Blog: Public Service Europe, 16.3.12: Sarkozy holds foreign policy advantage as election looms by Martin Michelot http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/1660/sarkozy-holds-foreign-policy-advantage-as-election-looms

EurActiv, 3.5.12: Hollande seen as less influential in Brussels than Sarkozy: Poll http://www.euractiv.com/elections/poll-french-believe-hollande-influential-brussels-news-512449

EUObserver, 19.3.12: Hollande 'not alone' in bid to re-open fiscal treaty http://euobserver.com/843/115625

---