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French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe at a Government Question Session at the National Assembly in Paris on July 16, 2019. Bertrand GUAY / AFP

The conclusions of investigations on the lifestyle of François de Rugy will be made public Tuesday, July 23, but according to the results already released in the press the former minister would not have abused lobsters with his friends in the Assembly and the Renovation of his office apartment complied with the rules. Nothing illegal has been spotted, but the government could still change the rules.

The dressing at 17 thousand euros was justified , the sumptuous dinners were " professional " and not private: according to Le Parisien and Le Journal du Dimanche , François de Rugy seems to be out of the question by the surveys conducted by the services of the National Assembly and by the Government.

Nothing illegal, a minister already replaced and the summer truce approaching. The case is therefore limited for the executive, but the Élysée and Matignon could not stop there. First, because the government wants to show the French that it takes the controversy seriously. And then we must also respond to the opposition that denounces biased investigations.

The Prime Minister should therefore take advantage of the publication of these internal investigations to clarify the rules. No big reform in anticipation. Édouard Philippe could simply " specify " the circular he had written when he arrived in May 2017. At the time, he called his ministers " exemplary " . Today, the text appears insufficient.

Same step in the Assembly where, again, Richard Ferrand does not exclude to modify the framing of expenses of the president of the hemicycle.