A look at France: the revenge of Rugy marked by the scandal

François de Rugy, the former Minister of Ecology, is still angry at what he calls "the crowd of media lynchists" who cost him his job. He wants more regulation of the press, especially its online versions.

François de Rugy, former president of the French Parliament and former minister, lost his job because the Mediapart information website accused him of misusing public funds to fill his companions with good food. and good wine, and spending a fortune to redecorate his official apartments.

The man has resigned.
Separate official inquiries into the two cases exculpated the accused in the first case, finding that the allegedly private dinners were in fact state functions and therefore legitimately lavish. With regard to the place of painting and decoration, the rooms in question are part of a listed building and their work is strictly regulated and very expensive.

Speaking of regulations and costs, de Rugy said that he would like to see more of the first application applied to Internet press operations, which currently escape the vigilance of the French media regulatory body, the Superior council of audio-visual. And, with respect to the costs, the former minister brought legal action against Mediapart, alleging defamation.

He says he does not want to make war, but insists that he is the victim of a lynching. "They did not tackle a subject," says de Rugy about Mediapart. "They went after an individual."

If the same allegations had been made on television, says the dissatisfied politician, the audio – visual council would have been there to arbitrate. But the council has no internet mandate, giving Mediapart the power of a major television network.

No censorship, just the respect of the basic principles

De Rugy is now asking for the creation of a control body for information services on the Internet. "I have always been supportive of the freedom of the press. You will never hear me calling for censorship. But I am also for the respect of the basic principles. "

State Secretary for the Internet, Cédric O, recently warned that if journalists do not take the initiative and do not settle their acts, the state would intervene and do it for them . He was quickly put back in his place by a pack of news, mocking the dangers of state control, blah, blah and blah.

We will see where the former minister arrives with his attempt to put good manners in place.

By the way, de Rugy says that he knows who leaked the information on which Mediapart based their initial claims. It's a woman, a journalist and a friend (maybe an "old friend" is she better?) Of De Rugy's wife. The former minister said that it was a "personal revenge issue."

And it seems, says Le Figaro, the former friend got the incriminating picture of the Valentine's dinner, wait for her, Mrs. Séverine de Rugy herself. She sent him to his friends to show them how good they were.

You can imagine that the conversation at the breakfast table in Rugy's family is a little tense these days.