The arrests of dozens of alleged Islamists and the deportation of several radical preachers in the wake of the Toulouse and Montauban shootings are raising questions. Is Sarkozy playing on fear? What can his rivals say about such a sensitive issue? Meanwhile, a scandal over the financial gifts of the Bettencourt family that controls L'Oréal appears to be getting closer and closer to Nicolas Sarkozy.
Today's papers ask if the arrest of dozens of suspected Islamists just before the election isn't a bit too convenient for Nicolas Sarkozy - while the Bettencourt case is back, and so is Ségolène Royal.
There are more revelations about Mohamed Merah in today's French papers - but who edited his gruesome video and sent it to Al Jazeera? Police are looking for collaborators. We also look at the campaign finance scandal that is getting closer to Sarkozy.
François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy shook hands last night at a dinner for France's biggest Jewish lobbying organisation - but are their attempts to attract the Jewish electorate working? We also look at Eric Woerth - accused of illegal campaign financing - and how this year's candidates are paying for their campaigns.
The French papers are worrying about the security of the presidential candidates this morning after a woman managed to cover François Hollande in flour yesterday. We're also looking at the Bettencourt saga, and fraudulent marriages.
The French papers aren't terribly impressed with yesterday's special summit on fighting unemployment - saying the unpopular social VAT won't help. The numerous corruption investigations being faced by people close to Nicolas Sarkozy are also back in the media spotlight.
The French press reacts in shock to Tuesday's shooting in Belgium - while former president Jacques Chirac gets the verdict in his corruption trial today, and daily newspaper France Soir prints its final edition.
Initial charges were filed Wednesday against a photographer accused of taking advantage of the frailty of France’s richest woman, cosmetics heiress Liliane Bettencourt (pictured), to the tune of approximately 1 billion euros in cash and gifts.
