French Court Orders Laurent Wauquiez to Disclose Guest List for €180,000 Dinners

The Council of State has upheld a ruling requiring the former regional leader to reveal attendees of taxpayer-funded luxury events held in 2022.

Laurent Wauquiez, former president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, must disclose the guest list for two lavish dinners costing nearly €180,000 in 2022.
The Council of State rejected Wauquiez's appeal to block the release of the list, affirming an earlier ruling by the Lyon Administrative Court.
The events, funded with public money, featured high-profile guests from business, media, and cultural sectors, with costs reaching €1,100 per attendee.
Opposition groups and the Regional Audit Chamber criticized the dinners as lacking transparency and serving to boost Wauquiez's personal political ambitions.
An ongoing investigation is examining potential charges of favoritism and misuse of public funds related to the events.