France’s Juppe backs Fillon, says ‘not leaving the ship’

FILE PHOTO: Francois Fillon , former French prime minister, and Alain Juppe, current mayor of Bordeaux, stand together after the results in the second round for the French center-right presidential primary election in Paris, France, November 27, 2016. Former prime minister Alain Juppe on Friday backed Francois Fillon’s French presidential bid and became one of his sponsors, a bid to heal party divisions just days after he sharply criticized the conservative candidate in a speech.

The Latest: Banging pots, French decry political corruption

Conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon delivers his speech during a campaign meeting in Aubervilliers, outside Paris, France, Saturday, March 4, 2017. Fillon, whose campaign has been unraveling over impending corruption charges, vowed to remake France in a speech on Saturday, a day before what amounts to his last stand, a rally near the Eiffel Tower widely seen as a test of his staying power via the number of supporters he can muster.

‘I’ll fight to the end’: Fillon vows to stay in French race

Conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon, centre left, makes his way while visiting the Agriculture Fair in Paris, France. Photo / AP Conservative candidate Francois Fillon has vowed to pursue his campaign for the French presidency despite receiving a summons from magistrates investigating allegations he paid his British wife more than 900,000 for a fictitious job.

French Mediapart journalist says judicial source denies report on Fillon’s wife

A journalist for French investigative web site Mediapart said his report that the wife of conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon was being held for questioning by police had been denied by a judicial source. Journalist Michel Delean, who initially said on Twitter that Penelope Fillon was being questioned over allegations she did little work for payments she received as Fillon’s assistant, later issued a correction on Twitter, saying his report had been denied by a judicial source.

France’s Macron targets political sleaze ahead of manifesto release

French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he would ban lawmakers from employing family members and from carrying out consulting activities, seizing on his conservative rival’s legal troubles to project a clean image. Standing as an independent centrist, Macron is tipped by opinion polls to defeat far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a run-off vote in May. He has shot to the position of frontrunner after conservative Francois Fillon was embroiled in a financial scandal over his wife’s employment as a parliamentary assistant and summoned by a judge on Wednesday.

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Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of The Republicans political party and 2017 presidential candidate of the French centre-right, attends a political rally in Charleville-Mezieres, France, February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann Francois Fillon fought to keep his place as French conservative presidential candidate on Friday amid sliding opinion poll ratings and speculation about his ability to carry on after accusations his wife got public money for work she did not do.

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A bonfire set by demonstrators protesting a scheduled speaking appearance by Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos burns on Sproul Plaza on the University of California at Berkeley campus on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. The event was canceled out of safety concerns after protesters hurled smoke bombs, broke windows and started a bonfire.

Prosecutors open probe into report of Fillon’s wife’s fake jobs

French politician Francois Fillon, member of the conservative Les Republicains political party and his wife Penelope, left, attend a final rally ahead of the first round of vote to choose the conservative candidate for France’s presidential election in Paris, France, on November 18, 2016. Photo – Reuters File French politician Francois Fillon, member of the conservative Les Republicains political party and his wife Penelope, left, attend a final rally ahead of the first round of vote to choose the conservative candidate for France’s presidential election in Paris, France, on November 18, 2016.

French presidential candidate Fillon to propose immigration quotas

French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon, who is favourite to win this year’s election, will lay out on Wednesday his proposals to cut immigration to a “strict minimum” through the use of quotas, an aide said on Tuesday. Fillon, who is seen beating far-right leader Marine Le Pen if they meet in a runoff in May in the presidential election, will also urge the European Union to tighten its asylum and immigration policy to counter threats from Islamist militants.