France’s Fillon Remains Defiant as Support Slips

France’s Fillon Remains Defiant as Support Slips
Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of the Republicans political party and 2017 presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, reacts at the end of a campaign rally in Pertuis, France on March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau
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PARIS—Conservative candidate Francois Fillon came out fighting on Wednesday saying he was certain to reach France’s presidential run-off against National Front leader Marine Le Pen, but polls showed him stagnating with voters questioning his credibility.

Once the frontrunner, Fillon’s troubled election campaign suffered another blow on Tuesday when magistrates put him under formal investigation on suspicion of misusing public funds.

He lags behind independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and Le Pen in opinion polls for the first round on April 23rd, after which the top two go head-to-head in a second round on May 7.

“I am innocent. The judicial system is being taken advantage of,” Fillon told Radio Classique. “I won’t be coming in third. I will be in the second round,” he said, accusing Macron of offering very little to change the country.

“Macron has been trying to seduce everybody. There are no structural reforms in it,” he said.

Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of the Republicans political party and 2017 presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, waves at supporters during a campaign rally in Pertuis, France on March 15, 2017. (REUTERS/Charles Platiau)
Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of the Republicans political party and 2017 presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, waves at supporters during a campaign rally in Pertuis, France on March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau