Centrist throws Macron support

FRENCH presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron won the support of a key centrist yesterday, hailing it as a turning point in his campaign, as an aide to his far-right rival Marine Le Pen was charged in a fake jobs scandal.

With two months to go before France’s increasingly unpredictable election, centrist veteran Francois Bayrou announced an alliance with Mr Macron to counter the “major threat” posed by the far-right.

Mr Bayrou had hinted for months at his own presidential run but ended the suspense by saying he would not mount a rival bid, to avoid splitting the votes of moderates to the benefit of Ms Le Pen.

His announcement came as a boost to ex-economy minister Mr Macron, who saw his ratings rise in recent weeks after conservative challenger Francois Fillon was hit by damaging corruption allegations but has slipped behind him again in the latest poll.

Ms Le Pen, meanwhile, suffered a blow when her personal assistant Catherine Griset was charged with breach of trust in a probe into allegations the candidate’s National Front party defrauded the European Parliament of about $360,000.

The legislature accuses Ms Le Pen, an MEP, of using parliamentary funds to pay Ms Griset as well as bodyguard Thierry Legier while they worked for her party in France rather than at the parliament.

Ms Le Pen has denied the claims. Justice should not be used to interfere in the May 23 presidential election as “this is an important democratic moment” and “fundamental” for France, she said yesterday.

“It is surprising that two months before the presidential election, there is this great judicial activity,” she said.

She questioned the “impartiality and independence” of “the administration of justice”.

The scandal comes as Mr Fillon battles his own investigation into claims his Britishborn wife Penelope was paid $740,000 over 15 years as a parliamentary assistant, despite little evidence that she did any work.

But while Mr Fillon’s ratings took a dive after “Penelopegate”, opinion polls show Ms Le Pen winning the first round of the election in April 23, although she is forecast to lose in the run-off on May 7.

Mr Bayrou, who has run three times for president, coming third in 2007, said he was backing Mr Macron to fight the “major and immediate threat for our country and Europe” posed by Ms Le Pen.