This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38840647

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Fillon payment inquiry: What you need to know Fillon payment inquiry: What you need to know
(30 days later)
France's centre-right presidential candidate is fighting for his political life, weeks before voters decide who will run their country. He was once the favourite to win the French presidency, but centre-right candidate Francois Fillon's fortunes have been dramatically dented by a "fake jobs" row.
Francois Fillon's Welsh-born wife, Penelope, has become caught up in a controversy surrounding a parliamentary assistant job for which she was paid hundreds of thousands of euros. His Welsh-born wife, Penelope, has become caught up in a controversy surrounding her work as a parliamentary assistant. As the presidential race hots up, Mr Fillon, a one-time prime minister, faces a formal judicial investigation and has spoken of a "political assassination".
What did Penelope do wrong?What did Penelope do wrong?
Nothing, says Francois Fillon, who insists everything was above board. But the clouds are gathering around the couple and the question is: did she do the work she was paid for? Satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine says she did not - and got €831,400 (£710,000; $900,000) for her trouble. Nothing, say Francois Fillon and his wife, who insist everything was above board. But prosecutors decided there was sufficient evidence to open a full judicial inquiry into abuse of public funds.
The question is: did she do the work she was paid for? Satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine alleged in late January that she did not - and got €831,400 (£710,000; $900,000) for her trouble.
She was employed as her husband's parliamentary assistant from 1988-90 and again in 1998-2002 and then by his successor, Marc Jouland, from 2002-2007. She worked again for Mr Fillon from 2012-13. That is all very well if she actually did the work, but one report suggests she did not have a parliamentary pass or a work email.She was employed as her husband's parliamentary assistant from 1988-90 and again in 1998-2002 and then by his successor, Marc Jouland, from 2002-2007. She worked again for Mr Fillon from 2012-13. That is all very well if she actually did the work, but one report suggests she did not have a parliamentary pass or a work email.
Police have begun a preliminary inquiry.
According to Le Canard, she also pocketed €100,000 for writing just a handful of articles for a literary review La Revue des Deux Mondes, owned by a billionaire friend of the family, Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere.According to Le Canard, she also pocketed €100,000 for writing just a handful of articles for a literary review La Revue des Deux Mondes, owned by a billionaire friend of the family, Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere.
And then there are the children too. Marie and Charles Fillon were paid by their father's office for legal work, but were not yet qualified lawyers, says the weekly. Investigators are also looking into this. And then there are the children too. Marie and Charles Fillon were paid by their father's office for legal work, but were not yet qualified lawyers, says the weekly. Investigators have also been looking into this.
Is it curtains for Francois Fillon? Is Francois Fillon out of the race?
The general rule of thumb is the longer a political scandal stays on the front pages, the more likely a resignation becomes. And this began on 25 January and is not going away. It does not look good. Mr Fillon has fought relentlessly to stay in the campaign and until now has kept much of his party behind him.
Mr Fillon was previously favourite to win the presidential race, but his support is ebbing away among voters and within his own party. One opinion poll said 76% of voters were unimpressed with his claims of innocence, casting doubt over whether he would reach the second-round run-off. But that might change.
Mr Fillon, 62, says he will not resign unless he is placed under formal investigation. And he has asked his colleagues to wait a fortnight for a decision. Mr Fillon, 62, said initially that he would resign if he was placed under formal investigation. That is now likely to happen on 15 March, when he has been summoned to appear before lead judge Serge Tournaire.
But Republican MP Georges Fenech has said Mr Fillon's victory in party primaries in November is "obsolete", and colleague Henri Guaino believes his position is untenable. It really is not looking good and "Penelope-gate" could bring him down. And yet he is still there, arguing that he is being unfairly targeted. "The closer we get to the date of the presidential election, the more scandalous it would be to deprive the right and centre of a candidate," he said.
The candidate's rivals are scenting blood, and yet he still has high-profile support. Seventeen centre-right heavyweights have signed a letter deploring the campaign against him and offering total support. They include three rivals defeated by him in the primaries. That change of mind has pushed a key member of his Republican team, Bruno Lemaire, to leave the campaign saying he believes in keeping his word. After all, Mr Fillon built his campaign on a platform of honesty and honour.
The runner-up in that vote, Alain Juppe, has insisted he isn't a "Plan B" - but his supporters may have other ideas. Mr Fillon has now slipped to third in the opinion polls. One poll suggested 76% of voters were unimpressed with his claims of innocence.
If he were among the top two candidates to reach the second round on 7 May, he could win, but that seems unlikely at this point.
More on this story:More on this story:
Does Fillon have a defence?Does Fillon have a defence?
So far Francois Fillon has complained of an "institutional coup d'etat" orchestrated by the left. There may well be a campaign to target him. Francois Fillon initially complained of an "institutional coup d'etat" orchestrated by the left. There may well have been a campaign to target him.
But a fraud inquiry is under way, so he will need more than rhetoric to help him. He and his wife have been interviewed and his children are now under scrutiny too. Now that the judiciary is pushing ahead with a full investigation he speaks of a "political assassination", of being in the cross-hairs of magistrates and media.
But he will need more than rhetoric to help him.
Asked by French TV about the work that his wife had done, he said: "She corrected my speeches, she received countless guests, she represented me in protests, she passed on people's requests... she did it willingly for years."Asked by French TV about the work that his wife had done, he said: "She corrected my speeches, she received countless guests, she represented me in protests, she passed on people's requests... she did it willingly for years."
Family lawyer Antonin Levy insists that Penelope Fillon has explained that her absence from any workplace was because her husband had no constituency office. "That role was filled from their home, and in your view who is at home... if there is no office? Penelope Fillon of course," he said. Family lawyer Antonin Levy insisted that Penelope Fillon had explained that her absence from any workplace was because her husband had no constituency office. "That role was filled from their home, and in your view who is at home... if there is no office? Penelope Fillon, of course," he said.
The Fillons' lawyers have reiterated the family's innocence, promising that would be recognised eventually by independent judges.
Does Fillon have a leg to stand on?Does Fillon have a leg to stand on?
Well, yes he does. It is really not unusual for French MPs to employ a member of their own family. French website Mediapart worked out that 115 out of 577 MPs did just that, either on a full or part-time basis. Well, yes he does. It is really not unusual for French MPs to employ a member of their own family. French website Mediapart worked out that 115 out of 577 MPs did just that, either on a full- or part-time basis.
And in France there is nothing illegal about it, assuming they actually do the work.And in France there is nothing illegal about it, assuming they actually do the work.
What might prove awkward is that few people have any recollection of Mrs Fillon doing any work. Michel Crepu, an ex-editor of the literary review that apparently paid her €100,000, told Le Canard Enchaine that she published two or three literary reviews but he had never met her and "never seen her in the office".What might prove awkward is that few people have any recollection of Mrs Fillon doing any work. Michel Crepu, an ex-editor of the literary review that apparently paid her €100,000, told Le Canard Enchaine that she published two or three literary reviews but he had never met her and "never seen her in the office".
Then there are Penelope Fillon's own words. French TV says it obtained a video from a 2007 Sunday Telegraph interview in which she says: "I've never been his assistant or anything of that kind... I didn't handle his PR either." The video is no longer available online and Mr Fillon's lawyer dismissed the video as old rushes that were out of context. Then there are Penelope Fillon's own words. French TV broadcast a video from a 2007 Sunday Telegraph interview in which she says: "I've never been his assistant or anything of that kind... I didn't handle his PR either."
So what if he does resign? Mr Fillon dismissed the remarks as out of context, and said first and foremost she had been a partner rather than a subordinate.
That is tricky, because there is no Plan B. Is it too late for him to resign?
Does that mean they would have to re-run the centre-right primary, in which four million French voters took part? That seems highly unlikely. It certainly is too late to re-run a vote in which more than four million people took part.
According to the lawyer in charge of the primary, Anne Levade, there is no provision for anyone pulling out. But if it did happen the interested parties would have to make a decision. If the Republicans want to replace him, that chance is fast disappearing. The deadline for candidates to submit their applications is 17 March, two days after Mr Fillon faces the judge.
Supporters of Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe, 71, are known to be urging him to consider a return to the race if Francois Fillon does pull out. Primary runner-up and Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe, 71, was the only potential alternative but he has shown no interest in running. He refused to stand in as a "Plan B".
So who stands to gain from the scandal? So who stands to gain from the controversy?
Francois Fillon's main rivals in the presidential race are the clear winners so far, because opinion polls now suggest that the man who was favourite to win will now fail to reach the second round run-off in May. Francois Fillon's main rivals in the presidential race are the clear winners so far.
Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen is expected to win the first round of the presidential vote in April, although she is still on course for defeat in the May run-off, opinion polls suggest.Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen is expected to win the first round of the presidential vote in April, although she is still on course for defeat in the May run-off, opinion polls suggest.
Ms Le Pen has her own "fake jobs" row to deal with. The FN is under investigation for alleged misuse of EU funds and the Ms Le Penhas refused a police interview because she has immunity as a member of the European Parliament.
At least three FN officials, including her personal assistant, are under judicial investigation in France over the affair.
So it is Emmanuel Macron, the centrist, young ex-economy minister, who has come from nowhere and is fast emerging as the person with most to gain. If a Republican candidate fails to make the run-off, then he would be favourite.So it is Emmanuel Macron, the centrist, young ex-economy minister, who has come from nowhere and is fast emerging as the person with most to gain. If a Republican candidate fails to make the run-off, then he would be favourite.