French prosecutors launch judicial inquiry into Francois Fillon 'fake jobs' claims
As "Penelopegate" deepens the presidential candidate will be formally investigated over alleged embezzlement of public funds.
Sunday 26 February 2017 14:56, UK
French prosecutors have opened a judicial inquiry into claims Francois Fillon gave his wife a "fake job".
The presidential candidate had been the subject of a preliminary investigation but will now be probed by a magistrate for alleged embezzlement of public funds and misappropriation of corporate assets.
The conservative allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of euros in taxpayers' money to his British wife Penelope for work she may not have carried out.
The financial scandal - which has become known as "Penelopegate" - has dented Mr Fillon's campaign hopes just two months before the French election.
Dismissing the allegations, the 62-year-old claimed they were part of a vendetta against him.
He said: "If I am attacked, so relentlessly attacked, it is because I clash with the spineless consensus that only likes the right when it walks in the shadows."
Sky News Europe Correspondent Mark Stone said the start of the inquiry was a "significant moment".
He said: "The right-wing Republican Party has no existing procedure to replace a candidate at this late stage in the election campaign.
"And even if they did, the other two contenders are hardly perfect choices.
"Former president Nicolas Sarkozy is himself involved in a criminal probe and former prime minister Alan Juppe has explicitly said he is no plan B."
Mr Fillon has lost ground in opinion polls since it was first reported that he paid his wife €830,000 (£710,000) for work she did not appear to have done.
Satirical magazine Le Canard Enchaine said she was paid from state funds between 1998 and 2013 for working as a parliamentary assistant, but could find no evidence any work had been carried out.
Two of the couple's children, Marie and Charles, have also been interviewed by investigators over claims they held "fake jobs".
Mr Fillon has said he would end his presidential campaign if charged by prosecutors.
However, under French law the judicial inquiry would be suspended for his five-year presidential term if he is elected.
Mr Fillon is not the only candidate to have been caught up in a "fake jobs" scandal.
On Wednesday, far-right leader in connection with a probe into alleged misuse of EU funds.