Paris — French Defence Minister Sylvie Goulard announced her resignation on Tuesday over a fake jobs scandal that has hit her small centrist MoDem party, which has allied itself with President Emmanuel Macron’s party. Goulard, who was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 to May this year, said she could not remain in the government while facing a possible investigation of alleged misuse of expenses at that parliament. Her resignation comes as Macron carried out a minor shuffle of his government following parliamentary elections on Sunday, which handed him and his MoDem allies a commanding majority. Goulard was named to the defence job only a month ago following Macron’s election to the presidency, but she said the possibility of an investigation made it difficult for her to stay in the post given Macron’s pledge to clean up politics. "The president is committed to restoring confidence in public office, reforming France and re-launching Europe," she said in a statement. "Thi...
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