Prosecutors have opened a preliminary inquiry following allegations that Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux hired his daughters while they were student.
France’s interior minister is facing investigation following allegations he hired his daughters for summer jobs while they were students.
Bruno Le Roux has also been summoned to meet the country’s prime minister.
A report by a satirical TV show claimed that, while he was in parliament, Le Roux employed his two daughters as assistants during their holidays.
There has been no comment so far from Le Roux himself.
Les deux filles de Bruno Le Roux ont cumulé chacune 14 et 10 CDD d’assistantes parlementaires (dont l’une à 15 ans). https://t.co/zerEyE4TRY
— Ellen Salvi (@ellensalvi) 20 mars 2017
“Bruno Le Roux’s two daughters had 14 and 10 short-term contracts each, of which one last 15 years” says a journalist for the investigative website, Mediapart.
Why is this an issue?
Politicians employing family members has become a hot-button issue in the French presidential election. It comes after conservative candidate Francois Fillon became embroiled in a scandal over employing his wife and children as assistants.
Members of the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, are allowed to hire family assistants and pay them from funds put at the disposal of lawmakers.
La justice ouvre une enquête sur les emplois des filles de Bruno Le Roux https://t.co/W7mgJoADsapic.twitter.com/Xx86DqoWoD
— Mediapart (@mediapart) 21 mars 2017
“An inquiry has been opened into the employment of Bruno Le Roux’s daughters,” says Mediapart.
What is the Socialist Party saying?
The secretary-general of the Socialist Party, Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, told French radio there was nothing wrong with employing relatives as long as they do actual work.
Cambadelis said is no reason to believe that Le Roux’s daughters’ work was fictional and calls for him to resign are not warranted.
Hamon : «la décision la plus sérieuse» pour Le Roux serait de démissionner https://t.co/hBhMlhUi2Wpic.twitter.com/oOKUR8ZJqj
— Libération (@libe) 21 mars 2017
“The biggest decision facing Le Roux is whether he should resign” says Socialist Party presidential candidate, Benoit Hamon.
