In France, Private Assets Get New Public Scrutiny France's Socialist government wants all elected officials to publicly disclose their assets, after the country's budget minister was revealed as a tax-dodger and forced to resign. The new rules, to be announced Wednesday, would apply to all national lawmakers and Cabinet members. In a country uncomfortable with wealth or open discussions about money, only the French president has to publicly list his assets - other elected and appointed officials file confidential disclosure forms to a commission that lacks powers of investigation. French President Francois Hollande's plan came after an investigative journalism site uncovered evidence that Jerome Cahuzac, the former budget minister, had secret Swiss accounts. Some officials are releasing their finance details already in response; others are less enthusiastic about an idea they say is being imposed without debate.