Macron stands by minister accused of sleaze

PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron, who has vowed to curb corruption in French politics, has backed one of his ministers who is under pressure to resign over sleaze allegations.

His support for Richard Ferrand, who directed his election campaign and is now urban planning minister, came despite a poll showing that two thirds of French want the minister to stand down.

Mr Ferrand is battling media reports of financial misconduct from six years ago when he and his partner allegedly benefited from a property deal when he ran a public health insurance fund in Brittany. He denies any wrongdoing, as does another minister under fire for allegedly diverting funds available for parliamentary assistants.

This is the first whiff of scandal to hit the new government of Mr Macron, whose victory was helped by sleaze claims that damaged rival candidates François Fillon and Marine Le Pen.

Mr Macron, at a cabinet meeting yesterday, ordered his ministers to show solidarity with their beleaguered colleague and said that Mr Ferrand still had his confidence.

“Only the courts are equipped to pass judgment … Things are not always good when the press becomes the judge,” he was quoted as saying by his spokesman, Christophe Castaner.

Mr Ferrand himself repeated that he saw no reason to resign and said that his work as manager of the health insurance fund had been above board and transparent.