- Title: France's Bayrou presents ethics bill amid inquiry into Macron minister
- Date: 1st June 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - JANUARY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
- Embargoed: 15th June 2017 16:15
- Keywords: Ferrand Macron law moralisation ethics Bayrou
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JG5GSN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French Justice Minister Francois Bayrou presented on Thursday (June 1) a bill to toughen up ethical standards for public officials, as fellow cabinet minister Richard Ferrand withstood pressure to resign over alleged impropriety in financial dealings.
Junior European Affairs Minister Marielle de Sarnez has also been accused of misconduct over hiring a helper in her work as a member of the European Parliament. Both Ferrand and de Sarnez have denied wrongdoing.
Media reports about Ferrand focus on his management of a medical insurance group as well as his hiring of his son as an assistant paid from parliamentary funds.
While hiring family as parliamentary assistants is banned in some countries, it is not illegal in France.
Failed conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon's campaign was derailed by sleaze allegations and he is now under formal investigation, not because he paid members of his family from public funds, but because of allegations that his wife in particular did not do much actual work for the money.
The proposed new legislation to clean up political practices is set to ban hiring of family by members of parliament.
It also suggests limiting politicians' time in power to three successive mandates, as well as abolishing the Republic's Court of Justice. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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