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| Fillon refuses to quit French election despite charges | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon has said he will fight on, as he announced that a judge was placing him under formal investigation. | French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon has said he will fight on, as he announced that a judge was placing him under formal investigation. |
| For weeks, he has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. | For weeks, he has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. |
| "It's a political assassination," Mr Fillon told reporters on Wednesday. | "It's a political assassination," Mr Fillon told reporters on Wednesday. |
| He has now been summoned to appear before the judge, Serge Tournaire, on 15 March. | He has now been summoned to appear before the judge, Serge Tournaire, on 15 March. |
| The date is just two days before the deadline for candidates to submit their final applications. The first round takes place on 23 April, followed by a second-round run-off on 7 May. | |
| What did he say? | What did he say? |
| In a combative speech on Wednesday announcing the formal investigation, Mr Fillon called on his supporters to "resist", saying it was up to voters to decide his fate. | In a combative speech on Wednesday announcing the formal investigation, Mr Fillon called on his supporters to "resist", saying it was up to voters to decide his fate. |
| "It's not just me that is being assassinated, it's the presidential election. The voices of millions of votes have been muzzled," the Republican candidate complained. | "It's not just me that is being assassinated, it's the presidential election. The voices of millions of votes have been muzzled," the Republican candidate complained. |
| He said he would respect the summons and tell the judge the truth. | He said he would respect the summons and tell the judge the truth. |
| "I won't give in, I won't surrender and I won't withdraw." | "I won't give in, I won't surrender and I won't withdraw." |
| Who is Francois Fillon? | Who is Francois Fillon? |
| A former prime minister during Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency, he was selected late last year in national primaries held by the centre-right Republicans that attracted some four million voters. | A former prime minister during Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency, he was selected late last year in national primaries held by the centre-right Republicans that attracted some four million voters. |
| For a time he was the favourite in the race to succeed Francois Hollande as president, but then came the "fake jobs" allegations in satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine. | For a time he was the favourite in the race to succeed Francois Hollande as president, but then came the "fake jobs" allegations in satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine. |
| He has slipped to third in the polls, behind far-right National Front (FN) leader Marine le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron. | He has slipped to third in the polls, behind far-right National Front (FN) leader Marine le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron. |
| His appearances have recently been accompanied by loud protests and he has accused the government of allowing the campaign to turn into "a climate of quasi civil war". | His appearances have recently been accompanied by loud protests and he has accused the government of allowing the campaign to turn into "a climate of quasi civil war". |
| More on France's presidential election: | |
| What has he done wrong? | What has he done wrong? |
| The allegations circling around the Fillon family focus mainly on his Welsh-born wife Penelope. | The allegations circling around the Fillon family focus mainly on his Welsh-born wife Penelope. |
| Le Canard Enchaine alleged she was paid €831,400 (£710,000; $900,000) over several years for working as a parliamentary assistant but reportedly had no parliamentary pass. She was also alleged to have picked up €100,000 for writing a handful of articles for a literary journal. | Le Canard Enchaine alleged she was paid €831,400 (£710,000; $900,000) over several years for working as a parliamentary assistant but reportedly had no parliamentary pass. She was also alleged to have picked up €100,000 for writing a handful of articles for a literary journal. |
| The family has consistently denied the claims. Initially Mr Fillon said he would stand down as a candidate if his case was placed under formal investigation, but recently he insisted that he would fight on "until victory". | The family has consistently denied the claims. Initially Mr Fillon said he would stand down as a candidate if his case was placed under formal investigation, but recently he insisted that he would fight on "until victory". |
| "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 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. |
| Mr Fillon cancelled a key visit to an agricultural show at the last minute on Wednesday morning prompting speculation over the future of his presidential campaign. | |
| "It's like symbolically giving up on your candidacy," said Florian Philippot, close adviser to far-right National Front (FN) candidate Marine Le Pen. | "It's like symbolically giving up on your candidacy," said Florian Philippot, close adviser to far-right National Front (FN) candidate Marine Le Pen. |