French secretary of state who posed for Playboy fired

French Secretary of State for Social Economy and Public Organisations Marlène Schiappa, who agreed to an interview and photoshoot for Playboy magazine, has left the government.

"Schiappa is leaving the government, paying for the appearance of her photos on the cover of Playboy," the BFMTV TV channel reported on July 20, TASS reports.

In April, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne reprimanded Schiappa for her acceptance of the magazine's offer. According to Le Figaro newspaper, Bourne called the secretary of state to say that her interview was "categorically inappropriate in today's social context."

For her part, Schiappa explained on Twitter her agreement to be published in the publication by saying that she "defends women's rights everywhere," adding that "women in France are free."

The publication of the photos, according to radio station France info, ensured the sale of 100,000 issues of the French edition of the magazine in "three hours".