Another one bites the dust. François Bayrou, the leader of France’s centrist MoDem party and current justice minister, has quit Emmanuel Macron’s government following an investigation into his party’s finances – marking the second resignation in as many days for the new president, reports the Financial Times.
“I have taken a decision not to be part of the next government”, said Mr Bayrou, whose support for Mr Macron marked a pivotal point in the election campaign earlier this year.
According to reports, European affairs minister Marielle de Sarnez and fellow MoDem member will follow Mr Bayrou out of government later today.
The resignations follow an investigation into MoDem’s mis-use of payments for assistants in the European parliament.
Yesterday, former MoDem MEP and defence minister Sylvie Goulard stepped down from her post citing the investigation. It means the three MoDem members appointed by Mr Macron to his cabinet last month have all resigned.
Following a landslide victory in parliamentary elections at the weekend, the president’s La République En Marche party does not need the parliamentary backing of MoDem.