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, reports RFI.
"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."
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."
Read more of this report from RFI.