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Fillon France election: Candidate faces crucial test in Paris rally Fillon France election: Candidate makes fighting speech at rally
(about 2 hours later)
Supporters of scandal-hit French presidential candidate Francois Fillon have gathered for a rally in central Paris, in what is being seen as a crucial test of his popularity. Beleaguered French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has urged supporters to fight on, in a speech to a mass rally in Paris.
Calls have been growing for him to quit over allegations he paid his wife and children for work they did not do. He told tens of thousands of supporters, many waving tricolour flags, that he would be cleared over allegations he paid his wife and children for work they did not do.
Mr Fillon has so far vowed to carry on, but in recent days several senior allies have deserted his campaign. The rally is seen as a crucial test of his popularity.
His wife said on Saturday that she did carry out parliamentary work for him. Calls are growing for him to quit and senior allies have left his campaign.
In an interview for French magazine Journal du Dimanche (in French), Penelope Fillon said everything was "legal and declared" and he would have paid someone else to do it if she had not. And just before the rally Christian Estrosi, a close ally of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, told BFM TV that senior Republicans would propose an alternative candidate in the coming hours.
His Republican party has brought forward crisis talks on the candidacy to Monday. However, he said it was important "not to humiliate" Mr Fillon and allow him a "dignified" way out.
Christian Estrosi, a close ally of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, told BFM TV that senior Republicans would propose an alternative candidate in the coming hours but said it was important "not to humiliate" Mr Fillon and allow him a "dignified" way out.
Mr Fillon has seen his popularity slip in opinion polls.Mr Fillon has seen his popularity slip in opinion polls.
The rally for the former prime minister started at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) at Trocadero Square near the Eiffel Tower. The Republican party will hold crisis talks on the candidacy to Monday.
A large crowd was seen on the square, many of them waving tricolour flags. In a rousing speech to supporters in driving rain, Mr Fillon urged his supporters not to give up the fight and thanked them for their support.
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that if Mr Fillon can get a big turnout - 50,000 or more - then he may be able to argue that he has a bedrock of support among voters. Referring to his opponents, he said: "They think I'm alone, they want me to be alone. Are we alone? Thank you for your presence."
But if the turnout is disappointing then the pressure for him to go may be too much, our correspondent adds. He said he would be exonerated when an impending criminal investigation got under way, and it would be the turn of his accusers to feel ashamed.
Mr Fillon tweeted (in French): "At the Trocadero, we will demonstrate the strength of the popular will. But he admitted that he had made a mistake in employing his wife.
"Hold on, like I'm holding on. France deserves our courage!" Penelope Fillon accompanied him at the rally.
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that Mr Fillon's aim in arranging this rally was to be able to prove that he and his manifesto enjoy a solid base of support among right-wing voters - and he may well have succeeded.
The idea of replacing him with another candidate now seems more complicated, our correspondent adds.
A counter-demonstration, billed as a pot-banging rally against corruption by officials, was also being held in the Place de la Republique, AFP reported.
Poll slumpPoll slump
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a member of President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party, called on Mr Fillon to cancel the event. Mr Fillon's wife said on Saturday that she did carry out parliamentary work for him.
In a Facebook post (in French), she said that its real goal was to show opposition to the judiciary, the police and journalists who were seeking to "bring to light the truth". In an interview for French magazine Journal du Dimanche (in French), Penelope Fillon said everything was "legal and declared" and he would have paid someone else to do it if she had not.
Mr Estrosi echoed these words. The latest opinion polls suggest that Mr Fillon would be eliminated in the first round of presidential election voting on 23 April, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and liberal Emmanuel Macron likely to progress to contest the election run-off on 7 May.
"You don't demonstrate against our institutions during a presidential campaign," the senior Republican said, adding that he had called Mr Fillon to warn him that he was making a mistake.
A counter-demonstration, billed as a pot-banging rally against corruption by officials, is expected in the Place de la Republique, AFP reported.
Speaking to supporters in Paris on Saturday as he marked his 63rd birthday, Mr Fillon said that those attacking him over his presidential bid were "trying to kill a desire for change".
The latest opinion polls suggest that he would be eliminated in the first round of presidential election voting on 23 April, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and liberal Emmanuel Macron likely to progress to contest the election run-off on 7 May.
A survey published in Journal du Dimanche (in French) suggests that 71% of those polled want Mr Fillon to step down.A survey published in Journal du Dimanche (in French) suggests that 71% of those polled want Mr Fillon to step down.
In another blow to Mr Fillon's campaign, his spokesman Thierry Solere became the latest member of the campaign team to announce his departure on Friday.In another blow to Mr Fillon's campaign, his spokesman Thierry Solere became the latest member of the campaign team to announce his departure on Friday.
Mr Fillon's woes have raised speculation that Alain Juppe, another former prime minister whom he overwhelmingly defeated in November's Republicans' primary, could return to the race if he were to pull out.Mr Fillon's woes have raised speculation that Alain Juppe, another former prime minister whom he overwhelmingly defeated in November's Republicans' primary, could return to the race if he were to pull out.