Sarkozy needs corrupt labour minister

The accusations of corruption against French Labour Minister Eric Woerth are growing ever harsher. Woerth allegedly helped France's richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt, evade taxes during his time as minister of finances. He would have long since had to resign if he wasn't so important for President Nicolas Sarkozy, the leftist daily die tageszeitung writes: "In reality the state leadership's resolute defence of the besieged minister is for another reason entirely: Eric Woerth is no longer responsible for taxes and the crusade against tax havens he launched (together with [former German finance minister] Steinbrück), but as new labour minister he must push through the pension reform. His unpopular proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 or 63 years hasn't won him many friends in France. Sarkozy however can't afford to let this man who occupies a key post go. With his downfall the pension reform, which has top priority for the president and will test his credibility, would also be discredited."

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