French ministers resign after spending scandals
July 5th, 2010 - 7:31 am ICT by IANSParis, July 5 (DPA) Two French government ministers resigned over scandals which included a 12,000-euro ($15,000) bill for cigars and a 117,000-euro private jet trip, the Elysee Palace said late Sunday.
President Nicholas Sarkozy had accepted the resignations of Alain Joyandet, secretary of state for cooperation, and Christian Blanc, in charge of a new transport system for Paris, the palace said.
Blanc had caused controversy by presenting the state with a bill for 12,000 euros for a years-worth of cigars. Only when it became widely known did he repay part of the money.
Joyandet made the headlines by spending 117,000 euros on a private jet to fly him to Martinique for a conference on Haiti.
The two may have anticipated their dismissal as Sarkozy last week announced a cabinet shuffle planned for October.
- Sarkozy accepts French PM's resignation - May 11, 2012
- 'Sarkozy got 50 million euros from Gaddafi' - Apr 29, 2012
- Sarkozy to return to old law firm - May 09, 2012
- Sarkozy to visit Libya after Gaddafi's capture - Aug 26, 2011
- 73 French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 - Aug 12, 2011
- Sarkozy says sorry as son hits cop with tomato - Mar 12, 2012
- Sarkozy promises to intensify air strikes in Libya - Apr 21, 2011
- French foreign minister to visit UAE Saturday - Nov 18, 2011
- Sarkozy cancels 'garden party' as austerity measure - Jun 24, 2010
- Sarkozy pledges budget surplus if re-elected - Apr 06, 2012
- Thousands protest austerity plan in France - May 01, 2012
- France recognises rebel Libyan National Council - Mar 10, 2011
- Francois Hollande sworn in as French president - May 15, 2012
- Kidnapped French journalists released in Afghanistan - Jun 30, 2011
- Sarkozy challenges Hollande to public debates - Apr 23, 2012
Tags: cabinet shuffle, cigars, controversy, cooperation, elysee palace, fly, french government, french ministers, government ministers, haiti, headlines, martinique, money, nicholas sarkozy, paris, private jet, resignations, scandals, secretary of state, transport system