- Title: Second Macron minister denies sleaze charge by opponents
- Date: 30th May 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 23, 2017) (AGENCY POOL) MACRON, PHILIPPE, LE DRIAN AND DE SARNEZ ARRIVING AT BRITISH EMBASSY
- Embargoed: 13th June 2017 16:31
- Keywords: Marielle de Sarnez Richard Ferrand Le Canard Enchaine National Front financial misconduct
- Location: PARIS & STRASBOURG, FRANCE / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: PARIS & STRASBOURG, FRANCE / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0056J17687
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Emmanuel Macron's pledge of squeaky-clean leadership hit another snag on Tuesday (May 30) when a second minister in the government of the new French president had to deny accusations by political foes of financial misconduct days before parliamentary elections.
In the latest twist ahead of the vote in mid-June, Macron's opponents were relishing his government's discomfort amid scandals similar to those which hurt his rivals in his campaign for the presidency and helped him beat far-right leader Marine Le Pen on May 7.
Macron's junior minister for European affairs, Marielle de Sarnez, issued a statement saying she had done nothing wrong in hiring a helper in her work as a member of the European Parliament, among 19 in all that prosecutors said were being investigated.
She also said she planned to sue the person behind the allegations - a member of Le Pen's National Front - on the grounds that the accusations were slanderous.
The affair comes on the heels of accusations of improper financial dealings involving another government member, Richard Ferrand, a close ally of Macron who directed the 39-year-old ex-banker's winning campaign. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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