Sarkozy tells ‘cleared’ minister to quit party role

FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy urged a minister at the centre of a furore over alleged illegal political donations to step down as treasurer of his ruling UMP party, but said he had been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Seeking to draw a line under the damaging affair in a live television interview, Sarkozy said Labour Minister Eric Woerth still enjoyed his full confidence and would remain in charge of crucial pensions reform due to be enacted in October.

“He is cleared of all suspicion, so there is no reason why I should get rid of him,” the president said.