France's interior minister Bruno Le Roux announced his resignation on Tuesday after financial prosecutors opened a preliminary inquiry into a report that he hired his student-age daughters for summer jobs while a member of parliament, reports The Telegraph.
The shock resignation came in the wake of a similar payment scandal concerning the British wife and children of conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon, which has severely damaged the Les Républicains nominee's bid.
The resignation came as Emmanuel Macron, the independent centrist candidate, solidified his position as favourite to win France's upcoming presidential election. Mr Macron has pledged to ban the practice of MPs employing family members and to pass a law "moralising" politics in France.
In this case, satirical TV show Quotidien reported on Monday that Mr Le Roux employed his two daughters 24 times as parliamentary assistants during their school breaks for a total payment of 55,000 euros.
By comparison, Mr Fillon is suspected of paying his wife Penelope and two of their children around 1 million euros from parliamentary funds for fictitious jobs.
In a brief statement, Mr Le Roux said: "I have tendered my resignation. to the President, which allows me without any considerations as a man and father to affirm my honesty."
While it is legal in France for politicians to hire family members, the report suggests Mr Le Roux' daughters did not perform all of the work and were first hired while still in high school.
The financial prosecutor's office said in a statement the investigation was opened on Tuesday and would be led by the agency charged with fighting corruption and financial and tax wrongdoing.
Mr Le Roux was summoned earlier by Bernard Cazeneuve, the prime minister, while a government source said it was unlikely he would be able to stay on.
Benoît Hamon, the socialists' presidential candidate, called for him to step down.
"The most prudent decision would be for him to choose to resign," he said.