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July 5th, 2010, 02:42 AM
French ministers resign over corruption
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:02:39 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=133450§ionid=351020603
Two French ministers have resigned after revelations about their extravagant spending of taxpayers' money on cigars and a private jet embarrassed the government.
"Secretaries of State, Alain Joyandet and Bristian Blanc, have submitted their resignations and President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon have accepted their resignations," the Elysee Palace said in a statement on Sunday.
Sarkozy and Fillon had urged the two ministers to step down on Sunday, AFP reported.
Charges against Joyande, who has been the French Development Minister since 2008, include spending more than $150,000 on hiring a private jet back in March.
Christian Blanc, the state secretary for the Greater Paris region and former head of Air France, is accused of spending approximately $15,000 of taxpayers' funds on Cuban cigars.
The news comes at a time the French government is struggling to regain political credibility following a string of embarrassing setbacks.
Opposition leaders hope that action will be taken in the case of Eric Woerth, the embattled Labor minister who the president is desperate not to lose.
The opposition alleges that Woerth's wife, Florence, has tried to evade taxes.
A recent poll shows nearly two out of three French voters believe their politicians are "mostly corrupt."
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:02:39 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=133450§ionid=351020603
Two French ministers have resigned after revelations about their extravagant spending of taxpayers' money on cigars and a private jet embarrassed the government.
"Secretaries of State, Alain Joyandet and Bristian Blanc, have submitted their resignations and President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon have accepted their resignations," the Elysee Palace said in a statement on Sunday.
Sarkozy and Fillon had urged the two ministers to step down on Sunday, AFP reported.
Charges against Joyande, who has been the French Development Minister since 2008, include spending more than $150,000 on hiring a private jet back in March.
Christian Blanc, the state secretary for the Greater Paris region and former head of Air France, is accused of spending approximately $15,000 of taxpayers' funds on Cuban cigars.
The news comes at a time the French government is struggling to regain political credibility following a string of embarrassing setbacks.
Opposition leaders hope that action will be taken in the case of Eric Woerth, the embattled Labor minister who the president is desperate not to lose.
The opposition alleges that Woerth's wife, Florence, has tried to evade taxes.
A recent poll shows nearly two out of three French voters believe their politicians are "mostly corrupt."