Treasurer of French President Sarkozy’s party to resign amid claims of illegal financing

Troubled treasurer of Sarkozy’s party to resign

PARIS — The treasurer of Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative party says he will resign at the end of the month, amid pressure from the French president and a scandal involving allegations of illegal campaign financing.

Sarkozy said he wanted Eric Woerth to resign from his job as UMP treasurer. Woerth told reporters after a Cabinet meeting Tuesday “yes, I will do it.”

Woerth was later quoted in the daily Le Figaro as saying he will resign July 30, to allow time to find a successor.

Woerth is also labor minister and is expected to keep that job.

A former accountant for L’Oreal cosmetics heiress Liliane Bettencourt said Bettencourt gave euro150,000 (about $190,000) in cash to Woerth, as UMP treasurer, during Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign. Sarkozy and Woerth deny this.