Huntsville, Ontario ? French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he has complete confidence in an influential minister under fire for his links to France’s richest woman, who is herself embroiled in a tax scandal.

Sarkozy said Saturday that he supports “totally and completely” Labor Minister Eric Woerth, whose wife Florence held a high-ranking post for the last three years at a firm that helped manage the fortune of L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

He was speaking at a press conference after a summit of world leaders.

Woerth has been accused of possible conflict of interest after reported leaks of telephone conversations suggested Bettencourt may have dodged paying taxes.

The affair has destabilized Woerth as he seeks to steer a new pension reform.