On Tuesday, shortly after the resignation of François de Rugy, Mediapart published a new inquiry into the minister's deputy fees. For Michael Hajdenberg, a journalist at Mediapart and co-head of the investigation service, the online newspaper did not go "too far" and these revelations have nothing to do with a "media lynching", he recalled on Europe 1.

INTERVIEW

"We do our job, we have tracks, we cut, we check and if our information is of general interest they are published, simply". Tuesday, at the microphone of François Clauss on Europe 1, Michaël Hajdenberg journalist at Mediapart, co-head of the Investigation Department, defended the work of the editorial staff of the online newspaper which for the last few days has made several embarrassing revelations concerning the minister of the Ecology. According to the latest survey published by Mediapart on Tuesday, François de Rugy would have used his expenses of deputy mandate to pay part of his dues of elected to his former party EELV, while deducting them from the calculation of his taxes. On Tuesday, just before the release of this investigation, the minister announced his resignation.

"We have a watchdog role"

"It seems to me that the way in which elected officials use public money is essential, journalists are there to be a counter power, we have a watchdog role," he points out. "It's been years since we chronicled life in the National Assembly and the Senate by explaining that everything that is fresh from the mouth, expenses of mandate, financing of political life is not controlled, but nothing changes. And business succeeds.As long as we do not put an end to this opacity can be feared that those who are not controlled continue to abuse, "said Michael Hajdenberg who defends any lynching media.

"We are exposing facts"

"We, we expose the facts, we do not account for the consequences." François de Rugy is not entitled to use his expenses of mandate to pay his contribution of elected officials, he does not have the right to declare to the Fisc that he donated as a private person while he uses public money to donate, which allows him to pay no taxes.These rules exist, "said the journalist. "In the same way, he is not allowed to make lavish meals with close friends while it is public money that is made for entertainment fees. If he wants to organize dinners with foreign delegations, it is normal, he is in his function. On the other hand, one does not organize meals with one's friends with public money. It's shocking to us, "he insists.