Macron allies quit

MODEM PARTY: ALLIANCE MINISTERS LEAVING FRENCH CABINET

New president has to reshuffle government.

Two more ministers from the centrist party that helped bring French President Emmanuel Macron to power quit the government yesterday as he prepared to unveil a new Cabinet.

Justice Minister Francois Bayrou, leader of the small MoDem party and a key ally of Macron’s in the presidential campaign, told AFP: “I have taken a decision not to be part of the next government.”

European Affairs Minister Marielle de Sarnez is also set to resign, meaning all three MoDem ministers are leaving the Cabinet after just over one month in office.

Defence Minister Sylvie Goulard stood down on Tuesday, saying she could not carry on while MoDem was facing an investigation into claims it broke European Parliament rules by using funds to pay assistants who are actually based in France.

MoDem entered an alliance with Macron’s 14-month-old Republic on the Move (REM) movement for the presidential and legislative elections.

In exchange, the president rewarded the party for its support by giving them key jobs in his first Cabinet – a caretaker government between the two elections. –