Ministers quit after scandal

TWO French junior government ministers have resigned after scandals involving spending state money on a private jet and thousands of euro worth of cigars.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office says Alain Joyandet, secretary of state for cooperation, and Christian Blanc, in charge of a sweeping new transport plan for Paris, submitted their resignations.

The statement said the president has accepted their resignations.

Sarkozy recently cracked down on his government’s spending.

Joyandet came under fire for reports that he rented a private jet in March to go to an international conference for aid to Haiti that cost €116,500.

Blanc was criticised after his office charged €12,000 worth of cigars to his ministry’s budget.