PARIS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Francois Bayrou, French justice minister and chief of MoDem party, a key ally to President Emmanuel Macron, is leaving the government after his political party has been under fire over fake job allegations, local media reported Wednesday.
"I have taken a decision not to be part of the next government," Bayrou was quoted as saying by local media.
He will hold a press meeting at 5 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) Wednesday to announce his departure.
According to government spokesman Christophe Castaner, Bayrou's resignation "is a personal choice," which "simplifies the situation."
Bayrou was the third MoDem party members who announced his resignation from Macron's cabinet. Junior Minister for European Affairs Marielle de Sarnez and Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard have also said they won't take part in Macron's government.
MoDem has been embroiled in a scandal that MoDem staff had been paid from the European Parliament (EP) funds as EP assistants, while they actually worked for the party.
MoDem denied any wrongdoing, saying its staff were legally employed and some of them were working part-time for the party and part-time for the party's EP members.
Initially expected to be a formality procedure after the legislative election win, the government reshuffle is likely to be more complicated for President Macron after the departures of ministers from his centrist party ally and who are in charge of key portfolios.
The new government will be announced at 6 p.m.(1600 GMT) Wednesday.
