French govt spokesman says MoDem exit from cabinet 'simplifies things'

French Secretary of State for Parliamentary Relations and Government Spokesperson Christophe Castaner arrives at the Elysee Palace before a weekly cabinet meeting in Paris, France, May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/Files

PARIS (Reuters) - France's government spokesman Christophe Castaner on Wednesday said the resignation of all ministers from the MoDem party allied to President Emmanuel Macron would "simplify things". A source in the prime minister's office confirmed Justice Minister and MoDem party head Francois Bayrou and Junior European affairs minister Marielle de Sarnez were quitting the cabinet, a day after another Modem minister said she wanted no further role in the administration. "It simplifies things," spokesman Christophe Castaner said on Europe 1 radio. "We have a majority after Sunday's big win (in the parliamentary election) and we have the wherewithall to govern. So now it's time to get to work." The MoDem party is embroiled in a scandal over accusations of public funding misuses. It joined forces with President Emmanuel Macron's Republic On The Move party in a parliamentary election that ended on Sunday with a commanding victory for Macron, who has promised to clean up and rejuvenate French politics. He would retain an absolute majority in parliament even without MoDem's support. (Reporting by Brian Love, Emmanuel Jarry and Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by Richard Lough)