the Council of State obliges the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to disclose the list of the dinner organized in June 2023

The former president of the region is suspected of having organized sumptuous dinners with numerous personalities, using public money.

The Council of State ratifies the decision of the administrative court, which ruled in favor of the PS federation of the Auvergne-Rhône Alpes region, in a decision rendered on December 30 that franceinfo was able to consult, confirming information from Liberation. The highest administrative court ordered the Region to release the list of guests present at the “summit dinner”, organized by former regional president Laurent Wauquiez, on June 23, 2023.

The socialist group demanded the publication of the list. The region contested this decision because of the risk that this document could “the subject of a political use likely to undermine the ongoing legal proceedings”. The new president of the Region, Fabrice Pannekouche, will therefore have to make this list public.

Former regional president Laurent Wauquiez is criticized for his use of public funds in the organization of luxurious “summit dinners” in the presence of numerous personalities. Another dinner, organized in June 2022, is the subject of an investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office.

“Victoire”greets the Socialist, Ecologist and Democrat group of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, in a press release on Friday, after the decision of the Council of State. For the local PS, “this decision marks a significant victory for transparency and ethics”. “This verdict puts an end to more than two years of unjustified refusal on the part of the former president of our Region”underlines the federation.

They denounce the choice of “opacity” of Laurent Wauquiez in this affair. For Johann Cesa, vice-president of our group, this decision is a victory for democracy: “We will continue to defend the rights of citizens to know how their taxes are used. Laurent Wauquiez will have to explain these dinners and their real usefulness. If Laurent Wauquiez promised to reimburse all or part of his sumptuous meals, we are still waiting for new regional president that he reports on it.” Laurent Wauquiez said he was ready to repay the “excessive amounts” spent at these dinners.