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French Justice Minister urged to quit over Sarkozy phone-tapping

France’s opposition conservatives have called on Francois Hollande’s justice minister to step down after the government acknowledged it was aware that ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy’s phone had been tapped. 

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira
French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira Reuters/Charles Platiau
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"I did not lie," Justice Minister Christiane Taubira said Wednesday as she was hammered during a press conference. "I have no information about the date, duration, or the content of the interceptions."

Phone taps were put in place on 3 and 19 September on Sarkozy's phones, and were ordered by judges probing allegations of irregular funding of his successful 2007 election campaign.

Taubira, who added that she would not resign amid calls from conservatives, said on Monday that she found out about the phone-tapping at the same time as the public when Le Monde newspaper revealed the news last week.

However, the political row took a turn Tuesday night after Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrualt told France 2 television that both he and Taubira were notified of the phone-tapping last month.

Sarkozy’s party, beset by in-fighting and allegations over irregular party funding, accused Hollande’s government of phone-tapping to discredit the right wing ahead of local elections later this month where they risk losing ground.

"So the Justice Minister has lied," said parliamentary speaker Jean-Francois Copé for the conservative UMP. "In this context, it is impossible for her to remain in office."

Taubira rose to prominence last year after pushing through laws allowing for same-sex marriage amid heavy street protests against the measures.

Friction among UMP party leaders has weakened the party and Copé has also faced accusations of irregular party funding, which he has denied.

Speaking on French television, Ayrualt said that neither he nor Taubira had seen transcripts from Sarkozy’s phone calls, which started last year after claims that the late Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi funded Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign.

Sarkozy, who lost his bid for a second term to Hollande in 2012 but has hinted that he might run again in 2017, has denied the allegations.

French voters head to the polls on 23 and 30 March for local elections, in what will be the first major test for the President since he entered office in May 2012.

Hollande’s ratings have hovered at record lows over high unemployment and turbulent economic times.
 

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