Environment minister François de Rugy had been under fire over claims that the publicly-funded luxury dinners he hosted had little connection to his political work. But on Tuesday he resigned blaming a "media lynching" that prevented him from now doing his job. In a lengthy statement on his Facebook page, de Rugy wrote: "The attacks and media lynching have driven me today to take the necessary step - which everyone will understand. READ ALSO Has former French president Nicolas Sarkozy really got taller since he left politics? The dinners reportedly included champagne, giant lobsters and a €500 bottle of wine that had been signed by Prince Charles.

Source: The Local July 16, 2019 12:59 UTC