The Paris home of France’s conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon has been raided by investigators, the BBC reports.
“The search was part of an investigation into an allegedly fake job given to his wife. He denies any wrongdoing.”
“Mr Fillon has vowed to continue his presidential campaign, despite growing pressure for him to step down.”
“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,” the BBC reports.
“For weeks, Mr Fillon has fought allegations that his wife was paid for years for work she did not do.”
The Guardian: “At a hastily arranged press conference he lashed out at the legal system and the media, claimed he was being unfairly targeted, and accused judges and the press of attempting a ‘political assassination.'”
“French bond prices fell to their lowest levels in 18 months amid fears the scandal engulfing one-time frontrunner François Fillon could bolster populist candidates in April’s presidential elections, particularly far-right leader Marine Le Pen,” the Financial Times reports.
“Traders have been on edge after they failed to predict the two biggest political shocks of last year, Britain’s vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s election in the US, and investors said the sharp moves on Monday were a sign they were steeling themselves for more jolts this year.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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