Beleaguered presidential candidate faces fresh allegations over meeting as prosecutors widen fake jobs inquiry. Fillon has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and refused to bow out of the presidential race, despite promising to drop his leadership bid if he was put under official investigation. French parliamentarians are allowed to employ family members but they must hold real jobs and do real work.
Since January, however, there have been fresh allegations almost every week. Penelope Fillon has been summoned to appear before judges next Tuesday. Her lawyer, Pierre Cornut-Gentille, denied the new allegations against her. He criticised the violation of the confidentiality of an ongoing investigation. The secrecy of the investigation has been violated. Opinion polls suggest the far-right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, and the independent centrist Emmanuel Macron will go through from the first-round presidential vote on 23 April to the second round run-off on 7 May.
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