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| Fillon refuses to quit French election despite investigation | Fillon refuses to quit French election despite investigation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon says a judge is placing him under investigation over a fake job scandal - but has vowed to continue his election campaign. | French centre-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon says a judge is placing him under investigation over a fake job scandal - but has vowed to continue his election campaign. |
| For weeks, Mr Fillon has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. | For weeks, Mr Fillon has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do. |
| Mr Fillon called the investigation "a political assassination" against him. | Mr Fillon called the investigation "a political assassination" against him. |
| President Francois Hollande criticised his words, and accused him of attacking France's judicial system. | President Francois Hollande criticised his words, and accused him of attacking France's judicial system. |
| "Being a presidential candidate doesn't authorise you to cast suspicion on the work of police and judges," Mr Hollande said. | "Being a presidential candidate doesn't authorise you to cast suspicion on the work of police and judges," Mr Hollande said. |
| Fillon clings on despite the odds | |
| Mr Fillon says he has been summoned to appear before the judge, Serge Tournaire, on 15 March. | Mr Fillon says he has 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. | 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. |
| Why is Francois Fillon staying in the race? | Why is Francois Fillon staying in the race? |
| 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. |
| The judge, Mr Tournaire, has heard several high-profile cases, including those of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and tycoon Bernard Tapie. | The judge, Mr Tournaire, has heard several high-profile cases, including those of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and tycoon Bernard Tapie. |
| How popular is he? | How popular is he? |
| Mr Fillon was selected late last year in national primaries held by the centre-right Republicans that attracted some four million voters. | Mr Fillon 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 - until the fake job allegations emerged. | For a time he was the favourite in the race to succeed Francois Hollande as president - until the fake job allegations emerged. |
| His appearances have recently been accompanied by loud protests. | His appearances have recently been accompanied by loud protests. |
| 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. |
| Ms Le Pen also faces allegations that she misused EU funds - a claim she denies. | Ms Le Pen also faces allegations that she misused EU funds - a claim she denies. |
| Analysis by Lucy Williamson, BBC Paris correspondent | Analysis by Lucy Williamson, BBC Paris correspondent |
| Mr Fillon's decision to cling on sharpens the thorniest question for his party. | Mr Fillon's decision to cling on sharpens the thorniest question for his party. |
| He's due to be placed under formal investigation just 48 hours before the deadline to confirm France's presidential candidates. | He's due to be placed under formal investigation just 48 hours before the deadline to confirm France's presidential candidates. |
| Replacing him as Republican nominee at this late stage would be a big gamble for the party, but having a candidate under investigation could also backfire. | Replacing him as Republican nominee at this late stage would be a big gamble for the party, but having a candidate under investigation could also backfire. |
| Bruno Jeanbart, director of polling company Opinionway, says: "So far, many right-wing voters have stuck with him because they want a change of government. | Bruno Jeanbart, director of polling company Opinionway, says: "So far, many right-wing voters have stuck with him because they want a change of government. |
| "But if they think his candidacy will finish badly, it's possible they will shift their support elsewhere." | "But if they think his candidacy will finish badly, it's possible they will shift their support elsewhere." |
| What is he accused of? | What is he accused of? |
| 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 for Mr Fillon and his successor, but had no parliamentary pass - raising questions over whether she did the work she was paid for. | Le Canard Enchaine alleged she was paid €831,400 (£710,000; $900,000) over several years for working as a parliamentary assistant for Mr Fillon and his successor, but had no parliamentary pass - raising questions over whether she did the work she was paid for. |
| She was also alleged to have picked up €100,000 for writing a handful of articles for a literary journal. | 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. |
| His wife also faces a formal investigation, AFP news agency reports, citing a source close to the investigation. | His wife also faces a formal investigation, AFP news agency reports, citing a source close to the investigation. |
| How have other politicians reacted? | How have other politicians reacted? |
| One of Mr Fillon's key allies, former agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire, has resigned from the campaign team. | One of Mr Fillon's key allies, former agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire, has resigned from the campaign team. |
| Mr Le Maire said (in French) he felt Mr Fillon had broken his promise that he would step down if formally investigated. | Mr Le Maire said (in French) he felt Mr Fillon had broken his promise that he would step down if formally investigated. |
| However, other Republicans have expressed their support, with politician Bernard Debre saying Mr Fillon was "doing the right thing" by staying in the race. | However, other Republicans have expressed their support, with politician Bernard Debre saying Mr Fillon was "doing the right thing" by staying in the race. |
| Rival Mr Macron said investigators should be "allowed to do [their] work as normal", but warned that Mr Fillon would not be cleared automatically of wrongdoing even if he won the vote. | Rival Mr Macron said investigators should be "allowed to do [their] work as normal", but warned that Mr Fillon would not be cleared automatically of wrongdoing even if he won the vote. |
| Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon criticised Mr Fillon's decision, tweeting (in French): "Fillon is asking somehow for the citizens to vote for his immunity. This is not the point of an election." | Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon criticised Mr Fillon's decision, tweeting (in French): "Fillon is asking somehow for the citizens to vote for his immunity. This is not the point of an election." |