French minister ‘may quit’ as UMP party treasurer

As Nicolas Sarkozy prepares to appear on French television in a bid to quell a storm over alleged illegal political donations – the key minister at the centre of the row is threatening to quit as treasurer of the president’s UMP party.
 
On the streets, people are angry. One disillusioned voter said: “Two members of the government already resigned but not Eric Woerth: I’d like to know why?”
 
“People are saying Woerth must resign and the president must accept his resignation,” said another.
 
A survey, conducted by pollsters LH2 found 57 per cent of those polled no longer trust Woerth who is also the French Labour Minister.
 
Woerth appears ready to stand down over alleged cash handouts by France’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Lilian Bettencourt said to have benefited conservative politicians. 
 
Woerth is a central figure in the case as he was treasurer of Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign.
 
Tax officials have cleared him of any wrongdoing.
 
The row has caused angry scenes in the French National Assembly where opposition politicians are demanding an independent inquiry.

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