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| François Fillon sparks speculation with last-minute farm fair pullout | François Fillon sparks speculation with last-minute farm fair pullout |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| François Fillon, the conservative French presidential candidate whose campaign has been hit by a legal investigation, has postponed a planned visit to the annual Paris farm fair at the last minute without giving a reason. | François Fillon, the conservative French presidential candidate whose campaign has been hit by a legal investigation, has postponed a planned visit to the annual Paris farm fair at the last minute without giving a reason. |
| Fillon has been under pressure over allegations that he paid family members for fake parliamentary jobs. | Fillon has been under pressure over allegations that he paid family members for fake parliamentary jobs. |
| He faces a full judicial inquiry into the allegations after the country’s financial prosecutor said last week she was appointing a magistrate to lead a deeper investigation. | He faces a full judicial inquiry into the allegations after the country’s financial prosecutor said last week she was appointing a magistrate to lead a deeper investigation. |
| “The visit by François Fillon this morning to the international agricultural salon has been postponed,” said a short statement from Fillon’s team that gave no explanation and sent rumours flying. | |
| Shaking hands, patting cows and tasting sausage at the annual agricultural show is seen as an unmissable event in the political calendar, when candidates set out to show their attachment to rural France. | Shaking hands, patting cows and tasting sausage at the annual agricultural show is seen as an unmissable event in the political calendar, when candidates set out to show their attachment to rural France. |
| Journalists had already gathered at the fair to cover the candidate’s arrival. | Journalists had already gathered at the fair to cover the candidate’s arrival. |
| Several French journalists said on Twitter that Fillon was likely to make a statement at midday Paris time (1100 GMT). His team could not be immediately reached for comment. | Several French journalists said on Twitter that Fillon was likely to make a statement at midday Paris time (1100 GMT). His team could not be immediately reached for comment. |
| Fillon’s rating in opinion polls has fallen after the authorities launched the inquiry into the allegations about payments to his family members. Fillon has denied any wrongdoing. | Fillon’s rating in opinion polls has fallen after the authorities launched the inquiry into the allegations about payments to his family members. Fillon has denied any wrongdoing. |