PARIS (AP) – French President Emmanuel Macron is shaking up his five-week-old government Wednesday – and will have to make more changes than anticipated after the minister who was leading Macron’s crusade to purify politics was forced to quit over corruption allegations.
Justice Minister Francois Bayrou’s departure is the latest drama to hit Macron’s presidency. He’s one of four ministers who have announced this week they’re leaving the government.
Bayrou announced his resignation Wednesday following allegations of misuse of European Parliament funds by his centrist Modem party. Even more embarrassing for Macron is that Bayrou was in the process of promoting a law to clean up politics, a key policy promise of the recently elected president.
Government spokesman Christophe Castaner said on radio Europe 1 that Bayrou’s decision was a “personal choice” and that he “wants to be able to defend himself in that case.”
But Castaner also acknowledged that “it simplifies the situation” because the government will no longer be dogged by questions and criticism of Bayrou and his party.