The issue focused on why Mr De Maizière had not disclosed to parliament that five investigators had tried to seize evidence from his house during a judge-led inquiry into claims of tax fraud that he had used to avoid hundreds of thousands of euros in payments to pensioners. Prosecutors are also examining allegations that he paid for books that claimed the Socialist government had guaranteed the country's stability.


Attorney general Christiane Taubira responded by asking for the investigation to be shut down and the deputies to resign in