Cahuzac Cazeneuve
Jerome Cahuzac hugs successor Bernard Cazeneuve (Reuters)

France's newly appointed budget minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called for media outlets to disclose all the information they possess concerning offshore bank accounts.

Cazeneuve was referring to the 2.5 million leaked secret files detailing financial assets held by the world's elite in offshore fiscal havens that are being published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

"[I've] asked for the press to disclose all the elements and files it holds in order to allow justice to take its course," Cazeneuve told the National Assembly.

The names of another 130 French citizens appear in the list of holders of hidden offshore assets, ICIJ said. However details are being published by instalments.

Cazeneauve's demand came as President Francois Hollande fights growing political pressure over revelations that a co-treasurer of his 2012 electoral campaign invested in two Cayman Islands-based companies and that former budget minister Jerome Cahuzac squirreled away hundreds thousands euros from the taxman.

Cazeneuve was appointed budget minister after Cahuzac, a former plastic surgeon, resigned over allegations that he had held €600,000 (£510,000) for decades in Swiss bank accounts.

Cahuzac, a vocal crusader against overseas tax havens, admitted the claims were true.

A few days later, ICIJ's investigation partner Le Monde revealed how Jean-Jacques Augier, 59, a long-time friend of Hollande and a co-treasurer of his 2012 electoral campaign, held stakes in two offshore companies headquartered in the Cayman Islands through a financial holding.

Next in line was foreign minister Laurent Fabius, who has been accused of having opened a Swiss bank account to dodge taxes by French newspaper Libération.

Fabius, the millionaire son of a long line of art dealers, has denied the allegations and has threatened to sue.

In an attempt to restore faith in the government Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has announced financial transparency measures for ministers and senior civil servants.

Ministers will have to declare their assets publicly by a 15 April deadline and the government will put before arliament a bill enhancing financial transparency among public officials by the end of the month.

Minister for the disabled, Marie-Arlette Carlotti, was the first to comply by publishing details of her properties, bank accounts, cars and other assets on her blog.