New French minister takes short-timer, scandal-plagued role
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Wednesday, July 1, 2015 file picture, French Junior Minister for Foreign Trade and Tourism, Matthias Fekl, is pictured while visiting the Arles amphitheater in Arles, southern France. French President Francois Hollande has named the country's low-profile trade and tourism minister, Matthias Fekl, as the new interior minister after his predecessor left amid a corruption investigation. (Bertrand Langlois/Pool Photo via AP, File) (The Associated Press)
A low-profile politician is taking over as France's interior minister after his predecessor came under formal investigation over a report that he hired his daughters for a series of jobs in the legislature.
The resignation of Bruno Le Roux comes amid a similar investigation into conservative Francois Fillon that has dented his presidential bid.
Matthias Fekl took office Wednesday as a short-timer overseeing France's fight against Islamic extremism, illegal migration and other crime. The current government leaves office in May.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TMC television reported that Le Roux employed his daughters, first as teens, as parliamentary assistants for a total salary amount of 55,000 euros ($59,000). While it is legal for French politicians to hire family, the report suggested that Le Roux' daughters did not perform all of the work.