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François Fillon, French Candidate at Center of Investigation, Stands His Ground François Fillon, Candidate in French Election, Vows to Run Despite Inquiry
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — François Fillon, the conservative candidate, defiantly declared on Wednesday that he would not abandon his bid for the French presidency, four days after prosecutors said they were opening a formal investigation into his possible misuse of public funds.PARIS — François Fillon, the conservative candidate, defiantly declared on Wednesday that he would not abandon his bid for the French presidency, four days after prosecutors said they were opening a formal investigation into his possible misuse of public funds.
Mr. Fillon’s campaign announced earlier in the day that he would not be visiting the annual Salon International de l’Agriculture in Paris, an obligatory stop for politicians seeking to draw support from France’s important farming sector, prompting widespread speculation that he would pull out of the race. Mr. Fillon’s campaign announced earlier in the day that he would not be visiting the annual Salon International de l’Agriculture in Paris, normally an obligatory stop for politicians seeking to draw support from France’s important farming sector, prompting widespread speculation that he would pull out of the race.
Instead, speaking in Paris, Mr. Fillon said that his lawyers had informed him that he had received a summons on Wednesday, but he likened the investigation to a political assassination and said, “I will not give in.”Instead, speaking in Paris, Mr. Fillon said that his lawyers had informed him that he had received a summons on Wednesday, but he likened the investigation to a political assassination and said, “I will not give in.”
Mr. Fillon’s campaign was thrown into turmoil in January after Le Canard Enchaîné, a weekly satirical newspaper that is also known for its investigative journalism, reported that Mr. Fillon’s wife, Penelope, had been paid with taxpayer money for a bogus job assisting him and his deputy in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.Mr. Fillon’s campaign was thrown into turmoil in January after Le Canard Enchaîné, a weekly satirical newspaper that is also known for its investigative journalism, reported that Mr. Fillon’s wife, Penelope, had been paid with taxpayer money for a bogus job assisting him and his deputy in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.
The scandal surrounding Mr. Fillon escalated when French prosecutors said they had opened a full-scale investigation into whether he had embezzled public funds, making his candidacy increasingly untenable. Mr. Fillon, who has played up his moral probity during his candidacy, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The scandal surrounding Mr. Fillon escalated when French prosecutors said they had opened a full-scale investigation into whether he had embezzled public funds, threatening to make his candidacy increasingly untenable. Mr. Fillon, who has played up his moral probity during his candidacy, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The candidate has struggled to campaign effectively since the revelations were made public. He has consistently and adamantly maintained his innocence, lashing out at the news media and insisting that hiring his wife and two of his children was legal. There are no rules in France against lawmakers hiring family members, as long as the work is genuine.The candidate has struggled to campaign effectively since the revelations were made public. He has consistently and adamantly maintained his innocence, lashing out at the news media and insisting that hiring his wife and two of his children was legal. There are no rules in France against lawmakers hiring family members, as long as the work is genuine.
In an article published on Wednesday before Mr. Fillon’s news conference, the French daily Le Monde described him as a “candidate in a bunker” who was “hunched up” and “in his shell.” It noted that he no longer took the train for campaign trips out of fear of being called out by protesters. In an article published on Wednesday before Mr. Fillon’s news conference, the French daily Le Monde described him as a “candidate in a bunker” who was “hunched up” and “in his shell.” It noted that he no longer traveled by train for campaign trips out of fear of being called out by protesters.
Had Mr. Fillon dropped out of the race, the greatest beneficiaries would most likely have been Emmanuel Macron, 39, who has started his own political movement and who favors keeping the country in the European Union; and Marine Le Pen, a right-wing populist whose potent cocktail of protectionist economic policies and right-wing nationalism has resonated with voters. If Mr. Fillon had dropped out of the race, the greatest beneficiaries would most likely have been Emmanuel Macron, 39, who has started his own political movement and who favors keeping the country in the European Union; and Marine Le Pen, a right-wing populist whose potent cocktail of protectionist economic policies and right-wing nationalism has resonated with voters.
Mr. Fillon, a 62-year-old former prime minister, triumphed in primaries for center-right parties in November, edging out Alain Juppé, a former prime minister, and Nicolas Sarkozy, a former president.Mr. Fillon, a 62-year-old former prime minister, triumphed in primaries for center-right parties in November, edging out Alain Juppé, a former prime minister, and Nicolas Sarkozy, a former president.
He campaigned on a conservative platform, promising to impose stricter administrative controls on Islam and immigration and to champion traditional French values. He vowed to cut state spending and overhaul labor rules, and he sought to project an image of probity and honesty.He campaigned on a conservative platform, promising to impose stricter administrative controls on Islam and immigration and to champion traditional French values. He vowed to cut state spending and overhaul labor rules, and he sought to project an image of probity and honesty.
In France, if no presidential candidate wins a majority of votes, the top two candidates move to a second round, which this year will be held May 7. Until recently, polling has indicated that Ms. Le Pen would lead in the first round, which is often used by voters to vent frustrations, and that she would face either Mr. Fillon or Mr. Macron in the second round. In France, if no presidential candidate wins a majority of votes outright in the first round, set for April 23, then the top two move to a second round. Until recently, polling has indicated that Ms. Le Pen would lead in the first round, which is often used by voters to vent frustrations, and that she would face either Mr. Fillon or Mr. Macron in the second round, which this year would be held May 7.