French complaints about the strength of the single currency have been rumbling for some time, as the euro has climbed in value against the dollar and Asian currencies.

ECONOMIST: The lessons of German history haunt the single currency

So even if the size of the EFSF is capped, the impression may well be created that French and German taxpayers have made an uncapped commitment to prop up Italy and Spain - which would infect the perceived strength of the French and German balance sheets.

BBC: Will propping up Italy weaken France?

Given the fresh emphasis on citizenship in multicultural countries, this is in some ways a strength of the French system.

ECONOMIST: France's riots

They offer the perspective of countries where newspapers are doing very well - not only in India, where they're booming on prosperity and rising literacy, but also with France Ouest, showing the strength of the French regional press against the national one.

BBC: Paper Tigers

Hollande, speaking to French radio station RTL early Friday, suggested Sarkozy had miscalculated his Socialist rival's strength in the run-up to the vote.

CNN: French presidential rivals enter final day of campaigning

Finance Minister Francois Baroin, in an interview Saturday for French television network i-tele, said France had "full confidence" in the strength of the U.S. economy.

CNN: World reacts to U.S. credit downgrade