France: Fillon says won't quit presidential race

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

France’s conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon on Monday denied any wrongdoing in family “fake jobs” scandal but admitted error and said he will not withdraw from presidential elections amid sinking popularity.

The Les Republicains candidate insisted in a news conference that both paying his wife Penelope’s as his parliamentary assistant and his two children as experts, were "legal and transparent", and he had hired them because he trusted them.

However, although such practices were legitimate and commonplace years ago "create distrust nowadays".

"It was an error; I profoundly regret it and I apologize to the French people," Fillon told the press conference, adding he will publish his assets on the Internet later Monday.

He said all accusations and allegations evoked by media are "unfounded" and therefore he will continue the presidential race.

Penelope gate

The 62-year old former prime minister said he had been under attack "incredible violence which has never been seen in the Fifth Republic."

Over the past two weeks, investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine has claimed -- citing pay slips -- that Fillon had paid about €1 million ($1.08 million) out of public funds to his wife and two of his children as parliamentary assistant and consultants for legal expertise, respectively.

Although it is legal for French lawmakers to hire family members as parliamentary assistants, Le Canard Enchaine cast doubts over whether his wife Penelope actually performed aide duties.

Penelope Fillon reportedly started working for her husband from 1988 to 1990 and then again in 1998, until 2002 when he becomes minister. She then allegedly held the same position for her husband's deputy until 2007 when Fillon becomes prime minister under Nicolas Sarkozy for five years.

A primary investigation was launched after the first report came out on Jan. 25. It was widened on Thursday to include two of the Fillons' five children, Marie and Charles.

Fillon himself revealed to French broadcaster TF1 two weeks ago that he had employed two of his children, who he said were lawyers, while he was a senator between 2005 and 2007.

However, Le Canard Enchaine claimed his two children were still law students at the time and that they were paid €84,000.

During Monday’s press conference, Fillon said his wife Penelope's salary was €3,677 per month, "perfectly justified" as she worked during 15 years, as his "deputy", carrying out several roles, including managing his schedule, representing him at cultural events and writing his speeches.

Fillon also said that his daughter and son were also employed in similar positions for 15 months and six months, respectively.

A new report published by French daily Le Monde on Monday claimed that Fillon's son was actually employed to work on former president Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 campaign team and his daughter helped him write his book and not as lawyers as Fillon first suggested in a TV interview.

Le Monde also claimed that Fillon is being investigated over whether he helped his friend Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere, the billionaire editor of a literary review, earn the coveted Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in exchange for his wife getting a job on the publication.

Fillon retreated he would stand down only if criminal charges were brought against him.

The first round of presidential election is set for April 23, with a runoff on May 7 if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote.

The former presidential favorite would be eliminated from the first round, beaten by both the National Front leader Marine Le Pen and former economy minister and independent candidate Emmanuel Macron, according to an OpinionWay poll for French Radio Classique radio and Les Echos newspaper published Monday.