Overview

• 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.