Fillon claims ‘political assassination’ in French elections
Conservative candidate François Fillon refuses to pull out of the campaign, despite allegations he paid his wife and children for fake jobs
Paris — French presidential candidate François Fillon said on Wednesday that he will not pull out of the campaign, despite admitting he is to be charged over allegations he paid his wife and children for fake jobs. Fillon, a conservative, said he would meet investigating magistrates on March 15 but denied all the allegations against him and reiterated that his family had "assisted" him during his political career. "From the start, I have not been treated like anyone else facing the justice system. It’s not just me they are killing, but the French presidential election," Fillon said in a statement to reporters, claiming he was the victim of a "political assassination". Fillon had led the race ahead of the elections in April and May, but the allegations cost him support and he has fallen behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron. He postponed a visit to a key farm show on Wednesday, before the announcement, sending the rumour mill into overdrive. His appearanc...
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