French ministers resign after spending scandals

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French ministers resign after spending scandals

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05 July,2010 10:02 am

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 tripon 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. 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.