French Labour and Social Affairs Minister Eric Woerth, implicated in several scandals, said Saturday he had President Nicolas Sarkozy's full support, according to dpa. "He is supporting me in an incredible manner," Woerth told i-Tele news television. "I have never seen a president of the republic support one of his ministers to such an extent." Woerth has been accused of accepting an illegal contribution of 150,000 euros (190,000 dollars) in cash for Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign from Liliane Bettencourt, one of the richest women in the world. Woerth was campaign treasurer at the time. French election law forbids individual campaign contributions of more than 4,600 euros, and stipulates that any contribution above 150 euros must be donated online or by cheque, with the contributor clearly identified. The accusation came from Bettencourt's former accountant, Claire Thibout, who also told the online publication Mediapart that Bettencourt and her late husband customarily gave large sums of money to conservative politicians, including Sarkozy. -- SPA
