Most French voters want two under-fire French ministers to quit - poll

Record ID: 877583

  • Title: Most French voters want two under-fire French ministers to quit - poll
  • Date: 31st May 2017
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) SACRE COEUR CATHEDRAL SEEN FROM A STREET IN CENTRAL PARIS PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS RESIDENT, DELPHINE VAUX, SAYING: "It's the very least, they are supposed to be an example for us, they are supposed to represent us, they are supposed to be upright people. As citizens, we have rights and responsibilities. They are politicians. At the very least, they should be beyond reproach." (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN JOURNALIST, BENJAMIN CUQ, SAYING: "I think that if we are going to give a clear majority to President Macron, it's better to be beyond reproach. And the swell of suspicion that surrounds certain ministers such as Marielle de Sarnez or Richard Ferrand has become completely toxic for the candidates of Republic on the Move (Macron's party). (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS RESIDENT, BENOIT ALLAIN, SAYING: "Well, yes I have read about the details of the controversy in articles. In the end, it is more of a false debate. And now, we are less into the politics of controversy. So I don't think this issue will have major effects." PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET PEOPLE IN CAFE
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2017 10:24
  • Keywords: Emmanuel Macron France French President Minister for European Affairs Marielle de Sarnez scandal financial misconduct Richard Ferrand resignation Edouard Philippe assistant European Parliament
  • Location: PARIS AND STRASBOURG, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS AND STRASBOURG, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0066J64CW7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:An opinion poll published on Wednesday (May 31) showed most French voters believe two ministers in President Emmanuel Macron's government should resign over ethical concerns.
    The Harris poll taken ahead of parliamentary elections in less than two weeks time said 70 percent of respondents believe that Richard Ferrand, minister for territorial planning, should stand down, while 62 percent felt the same way about European affairs minister Marielle de Sarnez. Both deny any wrongdoing.
    Ferrand, who headed the campaign that swept Macron to power in a vote last May 7, has been fighting for a week against charges of improper financial dealings six years ago when he managed a health insurance fund in the Brittany region. On a radio programme on Wednesday, he said all his actions have been "legal, public and transparent" and that he would not resign because he has not been charged by courts.
    De Sarnez issued a statement on Tuesday saying she had done nothing wrong in hiring an assistant for her work as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
    She is among 19 French MEPs in all that prosecutors said were being investigated following a complaint lodged by political opponents. In a radio interview, De Sarnez called the accusation lodged by a European Parliament member from the National Front "all lies" and "slander" and said she had filed a complaint.
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