This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/world/europe/france-francois-bayrou-macron.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 2 Ministers Allied With Emmanuel Macron Resign in France | 2 Ministers Allied With Emmanuel Macron Resign in France |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| PARIS — Two centrist allies of President Emmanuel Macron of France left the government on Wednesday, clouded by allegations that their party had misused European Union funds. | PARIS — Two centrist allies of President Emmanuel Macron of France left the government on Wednesday, clouded by allegations that their party had misused European Union funds. |
| The resignations of the two officials — François Bayrou, the justice minister, and Marielle de Sarnez, the minister for European affairs — cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a minor cabinet reshuffle later on Wednesday. A day earlier, Sylvie Goulard, the defense minister, also announced that she would step down. | The resignations of the two officials — François Bayrou, the justice minister, and Marielle de Sarnez, the minister for European affairs — cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a minor cabinet reshuffle later on Wednesday. A day earlier, Sylvie Goulard, the defense minister, also announced that she would step down. |
| Mr. Macron’s prime minister, Édouard Philippe, is expected to form a new cabinet by Wednesday evening, after legislative elections on Sunday that gave Mr. Macron and his centrist allies a decisive majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament. | Mr. Macron’s prime minister, Édouard Philippe, is expected to form a new cabinet by Wednesday evening, after legislative elections on Sunday that gave Mr. Macron and his centrist allies a decisive majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament. |
| Although the resignations will not hamper Mr. Macron’s ability to govern, they might have tarnished his vow to transform French politics, which was meant to make a break from ethical scandals of the past. | Although the resignations will not hamper Mr. Macron’s ability to govern, they might have tarnished his vow to transform French politics, which was meant to make a break from ethical scandals of the past. |
| Mr. Bayrou and Ms. de Sarnez are cornerstones of the MoDem, or Democratic Movement, a centrist party led by Mr. Bayrou that aligned with Mr. Macron during the presidential campaign. Ms. Goulard was elected to the European Parliament with the MoDem in 2009 and 2014, but has recently distanced herself from the party. | Mr. Bayrou and Ms. de Sarnez are cornerstones of the MoDem, or Democratic Movement, a centrist party led by Mr. Bayrou that aligned with Mr. Macron during the presidential campaign. Ms. Goulard was elected to the European Parliament with the MoDem in 2009 and 2014, but has recently distanced herself from the party. |
| Mr. Macron’s party, the Republic on the Move, and the MoDem won 350 of 577 seats in the elections for the National Assembly, securing a strong mandate to enact the president’s planned overhaul. | Mr. Macron’s party, the Republic on the Move, and the MoDem won 350 of 577 seats in the elections for the National Assembly, securing a strong mandate to enact the president’s planned overhaul. |
| Because his party won more than 289 seats, an absolute majority, Mr. Macron will not need to rely on his centrist allies for votes. | Because his party won more than 289 seats, an absolute majority, Mr. Macron will not need to rely on his centrist allies for votes. |
| The MoDem has come under investigation about allegations that it used European Union funds to pay aides who were actually doing work for the party. In 2009, six of its members were elected or re-elected to the European Parliament, including Ms. de Sarnez and Ms. Goulard. | The MoDem has come under investigation about allegations that it used European Union funds to pay aides who were actually doing work for the party. In 2009, six of its members were elected or re-elected to the European Parliament, including Ms. de Sarnez and Ms. Goulard. |
| Mr. Bayrou and other members of the MoDem have denied any wrongdoing. | Mr. Bayrou and other members of the MoDem have denied any wrongdoing. |
| Mr. Macron, who was elected on May 7, promised to run an honest and transparent government. Mr. Bayrou had made ambitious ethics changes a condition to his alliance with Mr. Macron, and he had recently been tasked with designing a sweeping ethics bill. | Mr. Macron, who was elected on May 7, promised to run an honest and transparent government. Mr. Bayrou had made ambitious ethics changes a condition to his alliance with Mr. Macron, and he had recently been tasked with designing a sweeping ethics bill. |
| Georges Fenech, a top official with the center-right Republican Party, now the main opposition group in the National Assembly, said in a statement that the resignations showed that Mr. Macron had “played for time” and had “fooled the electorate” by waiting to let the ministers go until after the elections. | Georges Fenech, a top official with the center-right Republican Party, now the main opposition group in the National Assembly, said in a statement that the resignations showed that Mr. Macron had “played for time” and had “fooled the electorate” by waiting to let the ministers go until after the elections. |
| “It is a rude awakening for the French, who had hoped for a new era in politics,” Mr. Fenech said. | “It is a rude awakening for the French, who had hoped for a new era in politics,” Mr. Fenech said. |
| Mr. Bayrou’s integrity and that of his party allies first came under fire last month, after a member of the far-right National Front party sent a letter to prosecutors hinting that parliamentary aides of MoDem lawmakers at the European Parliament had actually been working for their party. Prosecutors opened an investigation on June 9. The National Front is under investigation over similar allegations. | |
| According to the newspaper Libération, as many as 11 MoDem employees were being paid with European funds as local aides to the party’s European lawmakers. One of them worked as Mr. Bayrou’s personal secretary. | According to the newspaper Libération, as many as 11 MoDem employees were being paid with European funds as local aides to the party’s European lawmakers. One of them worked as Mr. Bayrou’s personal secretary. |
| Mr. Bayrou was also criticized for calling the head of the investigative team at a French radio station to complain about its work on the MoDem. He said he was acting as a “citizen” exercising his right to criticize the media, but many said the move was inappropriate. | Mr. Bayrou was also criticized for calling the head of the investigative team at a French radio station to complain about its work on the MoDem. He said he was acting as a “citizen” exercising his right to criticize the media, but many said the move was inappropriate. |
| Another member of Mr. Macron’s cabinet, Richard Ferrand, who was minister for territorial cohesion, on Monday. Mr. Ferrand, an early Macron ally, has been under investigation over claims he favored his wife in a lucrative real estate deal while he was the head of a mutual health fund, before becoming a lawmaker. | Another member of Mr. Macron’s cabinet, Richard Ferrand, who was minister for territorial cohesion, on Monday. Mr. Ferrand, an early Macron ally, has been under investigation over claims he favored his wife in a lucrative real estate deal while he was the head of a mutual health fund, before becoming a lawmaker. |
| Mr. Ferrand, a former Socialist who was re-elected on Sunday, was asked to leave the cabinet to take the helm of the new pro-Macron bloc in Parliament. | Mr. Ferrand, a former Socialist who was re-elected on Sunday, was asked to leave the cabinet to take the helm of the new pro-Macron bloc in Parliament. |
| Ms. de Sarnez, who also won a seat in the National Assembly last week, is expected to preside over the MoDem group of lawmakers. Mr. Bayrou remains a mayor, and Ms. Goulard will continue as a member of the European Parliament. | Ms. de Sarnez, who also won a seat in the National Assembly last week, is expected to preside over the MoDem group of lawmakers. Mr. Bayrou remains a mayor, and Ms. Goulard will continue as a member of the European Parliament. |