FRANCOIS FILLON

The French presidential candidate will face a full judicial inquiry into allegations he paid family members for fake parliamentary jobs The inquiry will examine possible misuse of public funds and a lack of full and proper disclosure, according to the French financial prosecutor 2 The judge can decide to drop the case or to send it to trial. Under French law, if Fillon were to win the presidential race, the investigation would be suspended during his time in office 3 The escalation is another blow to the conservative candidate whose status as favourite to win the presidency has faded since the Penelopegate affair — named after Fillon’s wife — first surfaced.