Police began questioning French labour minister Eric Woerth today as a witness in an investigation into a political donations scandal that has rocked the government.
What began as a family feud between France's richest woman L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt and her daughter has exploded into a political scandal involving allegations that president Nicolas Sarkozy and Mr Woerth received illegal donations.
"The hearing has begun, it's taking place at the (labour) ministry," said a spokesman for prosecutor Philippe Courroye.
Mr Woerth, a close ally of Mr Sarkozy responsible for steering through a landmark pension reform this year, has come under pressure to resign in recent months after it emerged his wife worked for Ms Bettencourt's wealth manager.
The heiress' former bookkeeper has also said Mr Woerth received illegal political donations on behalf of the ruling UMP party. He has denied any wrongdoing.
In a further twist, Ms Bettencourt's wealth manager, Patrice de Maistre has had the file on his prestigious Legion d'Honneur title seized by the Nanterre prosecutor's office.
Mr Maistre received the award in early 2008 from Woerth, two months after Florence Woerth was recruited to work at the firm Clymene, which manages Bettencourt's vast fortune, on an annual salary of 200,000 euros ($260,300).
Florence Woerth and Mr Maistre have already been questioned by police. Florence Woerth has denied any quid pro quo arrangement but has said it was Mr Maistre who offered her the job, only a few weeks after her husband began working at the budget ministry.
Police also searched the home of the heiress' daughter, Francoise Meyers-Bettencourt, yesterday as part of an inquiry into violation of privacy after tapes of Ms Bettencourt's conversations at home with her accountants were made by the butler in secret.
Reuters