Paris (AFP)

The former Italian secretary of state who became adviser to Édouard Philippe, Sandro Gozi, announced Wednesday in a letter sent to AFP his resignation, after being suspected of collaborating with the Maltese government while being in Matignon.

Denouncing "vile attacks", the Italian decided to resign to "regain full freedom of speech" in order to defend himself and "avoid any political instrumentalization that could be detrimental to the head of government" French.

Monday, Le Monde and the Maltese daily Times of Malta said Sandro Gozi was also working for Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

"The Maltese contract mentioned in the press legally governs an advisory mission carried out as an external consultant to the Maltese authorities," he defended in the letter.

This collaboration "has stopped at (his) request after the result of the European elections in France", he continues, assuring to have given evidence of his assertions.

After he was hired in the Prime Minister's Office on 1 August, the Italian had fulfilled his "declaratory obligations as ministerial advisor to the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life" (HATVP), he assures in his letter.

He adds that he then carried out "a declaratory supplement after realizing that the French legislation required the declaration not only of public activities but also of private professional activities".

Promising that "his professional activities have never been concealed", Mr. Gozi assures "that the HATVP has not yet reached a conclusive result of the examination of his statement".

On Tuesday, during the government's questions to the National Assembly, LR MP Pierre-Henri Dumont summoned the Prime Minister to answer the question: "Who is your adviser really working for?"

"Mr. Gozi was invited (Monday) by the director of the cabinet of the Prime Minister to produce explanations," responded Édouard Philippe. "The head of government demands (from those who work in the government) perfect probity and respect for all the rules that are binding on all those who have the honor of serving France," he added.

Sandro Gozi had confirmed during his hiring "that his cabinet job in Matignon was exclusive of any other professional activity, let alone for another government", assured Tuesday Matignon.

© 2019 AFP