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 5 Version 6
Fillon payment inquiry: What you need to know Fillon payment inquiry: What you need to know
(2 days later)
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.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.
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". 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 have the Fillons done wrong?What have the Fillons done wrong?
Nothing, say Francois Fillon and his wife, who insist everything was above board. But prosecutors have decided there is sufficient evidence to open a full judicial inquiry into abuse of public funds and on 15 March the examining magistrate is expected to place him under formal investigation.Nothing, say Francois Fillon and his wife, who insist everything was above board. But prosecutors have decided there is sufficient evidence to open a full judicial inquiry into abuse of public funds and on 15 March the examining magistrate is expected to place him under formal investigation.
The question is: did Penelope Fillon 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.The question is: did Penelope Fillon 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.
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.
The weekly has also alleged that Mr Fillon failed to declare a tax-free loan from the billionaire.
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.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 Francois Fillon out of the race?Is Francois Fillon out of the race?
It does not look good. Mr Fillon has fought relentlessly to stay in the campaign but more and more party colleagues are deserting him.
Mr Fillon, 62, said initially that he would resign if he was placed under formal investigation. He now acknowledges that is likely to happen on 15 March, when he appears before lead judge Serge Tournaire.Mr Fillon, 62, said initially that he would resign if he was placed under formal investigation. He now acknowledges that is likely to happen on 15 March, when he appears before lead judge Serge Tournaire.
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. And yet he is fighting on, 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.
That change of mind prompted key allies, such as Bruno Lemaire, to leave the campaign, arguing that Mr Fillon had built his campaign on a platform of honesty and honour. That change of mind prompted key allies to abandon him. But when Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe ruled himself out as a replacement the party leadership swung behind Mr Fillon.
Patrick Stefanini, his campaign director, has pulled out pointing to the candidate's fall to third in the opinion polls. Some 70% of voters also say Mr Fillon should withdraw, according to one poll. Opinion polls however suggest the one-time favourite for the presidency is now third in the race and unlikely to reach the second round runoff on 7 May.
Mr Fillon may plough on as there is no obvious rival to replace him. Alain Juppe, who came second in the party's primaries, refuses to stand. The mayor of Bordeaux was himself convicted of misuse of public funds at Paris city hall.
More on this story:More on this story:
Does Fillon have a defence?Does Fillon have a defence?
Francois Fillon initially complained of an "institutional coup d'etat" orchestrated by the left. There may well have been 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.
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.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.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."
Penelope Fillon said in an interview that her husband "needed someone to carry out his tasks. If it hadn't been me, he would have paid someone else to do it, so we decided that it would be me".Penelope Fillon said in an interview that her husband "needed someone to carry out his tasks. If it hadn't been me, he would have paid someone else to do it, so we decided that it would be me".
Family lawyer Antonin Levy said earlier that Mrs 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.Family lawyer Antonin Levy said earlier that Mrs 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.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. And remarks she made in 2007 to the Sunday Telegraph do little to help. "I've never been his assistant or anything of that kind... I didn't handle his PR either."What might prove awkward is that few people have any recollection of Mrs Fillon doing any work. And remarks she made in 2007 to the Sunday Telegraph do little to help. "I've never been his assistant or anything of that kind... I didn't handle his PR either."
Mr Fillon dismissed the remarks as out of context, and said first and foremost she had been a partner rather than a subordinate.Mr Fillon dismissed the remarks as out of context, and said first and foremost she had been a partner rather than a subordinate.
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". Michel Crepu, an ex-editor of the literary review that apparently paid her €100,000, told Le Canard Enchainethat she published two or three literary reviews but he had never met her and "never seen her in the office".
In her defence, Penelope Fillon said she "produced reading notes" for the review's owner.In her defence, Penelope Fillon said she "produced reading notes" for the review's owner.
Is it too late for him to resign?
It certainly is too late to re-run the primary vote in which more than four million people took part.
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.
There is no obvious stand-in either, now that primary runner-up and Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe, 71, has emphatically stated he will not be a candidate.
So who stands to gain from the controversy?So who stands to gain from the controversy?
The Republicans appear in disarray and Francois Fillon's main rivals in the presidential race are the clear winners so far.The Republicans appear in disarray and 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. One is far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who has her own "fake jobs" row to deal with. The FN is under investigation for alleged misuse of EU funds and Ms Le Pen has refused a police interview because she has immunity as a member of the European Parliament.
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.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 the rival with perhaps most to gain is Emmanuel Macron, the centrist, young ex-economy minister, who has come from nowhere and is neck and neck in the polls with Marine Le Pen for the first round on 23 April.
If Francois Fillon fails to make the run-off, then he would be favourite to win the presidency.