16 Apr 2013

Cabinet members' assets being listed online

7:18 am on 16 April 2013

The French government is publishing a list listing the personal assets of its ministers online to try to restore confidence in the administration after a series of financial scandals.

All 37 ministers have complied with a decree by President Francois Hollande to put details of their bank accounts, homes, furniture, cars and artworks on the internet.

The move followed a scandal surrounding former Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac, who is charged with tax fraud over a secret bank account.

Earlier this month Mr Cahuzac admitted he had hidden about 600,000 euros ($US770,000) in a Swiss bank account, having repeatedly denied it.

He resigned from his position and is now being investigated for tax fraud.

Mr Hollande's popularity ratings have plummeted in the wake of the scandal. When he was last year, he promised voters a government that would promote morality and integrity in public life.

A BBC correspondent said the exercised is designed to dispel some of the public disenchantment with politics that has developed in recent weeks.