Protesters hold anti-corruption rally in Paris
- 7 years ago
Close to a thousand protesters gathered at Paris' Place de la Republique on Sunday (March 5) to demonstrate against corruption, as embattled French presidential candidate Francois Fillon delivered a defiant speech to thousands of supporters at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Once the frontrunner in the presidential race, Fillon is mired in a scandal over his wife's pay. His campaign has been in serious trouble since he learnt last week that he could be placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds.
Holding up signs and banging on pots, Parisians expressed their discontent.
"I'm sick and tired of getting mad at my TV on my couch. At some point you have to call things out," said a protester who chose not to give her name.
Opinion polls continue to show Fillon would fail to make the second round of the April/May election.
Instead, centrist Emmanuel Macron is consolidating his position as favourite to win a second-round head-to-head against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
An Ifop poll published on Saturday showed that more than 70 percent of French voters want Fillon to drop out. Support from his camp has also fallen to 53 percent from 70 percent two weeks ago.
Fillon has denied any wrongdoing and complained of judicial and media bias that amounted to a "political assassination". Sunday's rally was intended to show he still has support among the grassroots.
But some protesters at the anti-corruption demonstration said Fillon's rally amounted to "impropriety".
"So it's time that they accept judicial decisions and revoke their candidature," said the organiser of the movement "Stop Corruption" Sophie Tissier.
The Republicans party leaders prepared for a meeting on Monday to discuss crisis ahead of a March 17 deadline when all candidates must be formally endorsed by at least 500 elected officials.
Two French news organisations, Marianne and Mediapart, published in February extracts from an investigation report by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), detailing suspicions of fictitious employment of two of fart-right candidate Marine Le Pen's assistants in the European Parliament.
Once the frontrunner in the presidential race, Fillon is mired in a scandal over his wife's pay. His campaign has been in serious trouble since he learnt last week that he could be placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds.
Holding up signs and banging on pots, Parisians expressed their discontent.
"I'm sick and tired of getting mad at my TV on my couch. At some point you have to call things out," said a protester who chose not to give her name.
Opinion polls continue to show Fillon would fail to make the second round of the April/May election.
Instead, centrist Emmanuel Macron is consolidating his position as favourite to win a second-round head-to-head against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
An Ifop poll published on Saturday showed that more than 70 percent of French voters want Fillon to drop out. Support from his camp has also fallen to 53 percent from 70 percent two weeks ago.
Fillon has denied any wrongdoing and complained of judicial and media bias that amounted to a "political assassination". Sunday's rally was intended to show he still has support among the grassroots.
But some protesters at the anti-corruption demonstration said Fillon's rally amounted to "impropriety".
"So it's time that they accept judicial decisions and revoke their candidature," said the organiser of the movement "Stop Corruption" Sophie Tissier.
The Republicans party leaders prepared for a meeting on Monday to discuss crisis ahead of a March 17 deadline when all candidates must be formally endorsed by at least 500 elected officials.
Two French news organisations, Marianne and Mediapart, published in February extracts from an investigation report by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), detailing suspicions of fictitious employment of two of fart-right candidate Marine Le Pen's assistants in the European Parliament.