Did Rugy's former disgraced minister really do something wrong?

Five days after the former Minister of Ecology, François de Rugy, was forced to resign because of allegations that he allegedly used public money wrongly, two Official investigations seem to indicate that he did not do it.

The official results of the two separate surveys are to be made public Tuesday. But tabloid The Parisian has already revealed the essential details.

In both alleged offenses – including excessive spending for luxurious private dinners and an exaggerated bill for the renovation of his official residence – de Rugy seems to have done nothing wrong.

The expensive dinners were the subject of an investigation by the French parliamentary service. The Mediapart information site first claimed that de Rugy had organized at least ten private receptions during his tenure in the National Assembly. Lobster and fine wines were served in the cellars of the French Parliament.

The official report, according to the radio France Info and The Parisianwould say that these meals were in fact all of a professional nature and were not excessive in view of the importance of de Rugy's position and the caliber of his guests.

The other allegation against the former minister concerns the redecoration of his private room at the Ministry of the Environment, which cost the state 63,000 euros.

The General Secretariat of the Government inspected the work done, checked the tendering process and reviewed the budget and bills. "Everything is perfectly in order," according to an unidentified official who saw the final report.

The price is apparently justified by the fact that the specialists, who are selected to work in 18th century listed buildings, offer a very high level of expertise. And are very expensive.

François de Rugy will wait for the official publication of the two reports that seem to justify it before making a statement. But he has already made a smile on Twitter by pointing out that the facts in both cases are more powerful than the claims of his detractors.

The Parisian says that there are still a number of issues.

Each of the reports eliminating the former minister was produced by individuals within or near the circle of power. A ministerial adviser quoted by the Parisian newspaper said that it was clear that this man had already suffered enough to lose his job and that it was useless to continue the bashing.

There is also a third charge against de Rugy. Mediapart reportedly used part of its government's spending to finance the Green Europe Ecology party.

The problem is that he also seems to have deducted money from his tax bill, totaling 9,200 euros, while state spending is automatically excluded from income tax.

Damien Adam, De Rugy's parliamentary colleague, states that such a procedure is obviously wrong. If that happens to be true, Adam continues, then de Rugy made the right choice by resigning.

François de Rugy has made no statement on the latest claims. But he started legal proceedings for defamation against Mediapart.