Orange CEO Stephane Richard has been acquitted of charges held against him in the trial for the so-called Tapie affair. He was one of several individuals accused of alleged crimes dating back to 2007 and 2008, when he held a government position under the then French finance minister Christine Lagarde. Speaking to the press, Richard described the verdict as an "immense relief".
Orange renewed Richard’s mandate for a new term last year. His re-election was supported by the French government based on the positive results he had achieved in his two previous four-year terms. However, finance minister Bruno Le Maire said at the time that Richard would have had to resign from his position in the case of conviction in the Tapie trial.
