French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday justified his choice to back two ministers in his government whose past actions have clouded the new leader's effort to clean up politics. Macron said that only the justice system, and not media reports, can decide whether Territorial Cohesion Minister Richard Ferrand and European Affairs Minister Mareille de Sarnez will be prosecuted. Ferrand is suspected of past business practices that benefited his romantic partner during the time when he led an insurance company. Government spokesman Christophe Castaner told reporters after a Cabinet meeting that Macron stressed the "need for transparency" in French politics. He acknowledged some experienced government members used to have practices from the "former world" that are legal, but not tolerated anymore by French public opinion.

Source: ABC News May 31, 2017 11:03 UTC