A string of revelations from Mediapart about his lifestyle and use of public money led to the resignation of François de Rugy, environment minister and number two in the French government, on July 16th 2019. Since then the former minister has been on a PR offensive, helped by friends in the media, seeking to prove that his name has subsequently been “cleared” and that Mediapart's revelations had been “refuted”. This is obviously untrue. Fabrice Arfi, Michaël Hajdenberg, Antton Rouget and Marine Turchi look back over the facts of the case.
Mediapart has become used to getting its share of criticism after almost every one of its political investigations. But this summer the public relations offensive carried out by François de Rugy, helpfully relayed by friends in the media, is unusual in having taken place after his resignation as environment minister on July 16th 2019 following revelations by Mediapart. The aim of the former number two in the government – who reverted back to being an MP when he quit as a minister – is clearly to restore his image and keep alive his political future.
