French elections: Fillon vows to fight on in defiance rally

Yet in both France and Germany, recent weeks have seen a refreshing surge by candidates who are perceived as outsiders, yet are committed to mainstream policies and institutions.

But he has been overtaken by the youthful pro-business centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen – whose poll numbers are largely holding up despite her own fake jobs scandal. Even amongst right-wing voters, points of view are mixed, with approval for Fillon remaining in the race split 50/50.

UDI leader Jean-Christophe Lagarde said Mr Fillon had become a liability, and that as long as he was a candidate, the centre-right was heading for certain failure. Le Pen herself has refused to cooperate with any investigations until the election is over.

And the former immigration lawyer is said to be winning voters every day thanks to her enthusiastic followers who are determined to shake up the establishment. She is a twice-divorced mother of three, cohabiting with another leading National Front politician. The French presidential hopeful is the former economy minister of current socialist President Francois Hollande. And he’s in second place.

Fillon announced Wednesday that he would continue his campaign despite allegations that he used public funds to pay his wife to do a fake government job. And he built himself as morally irreproachable.

BEARDSLEY: People are stunned.

“I am being attacked but through me what they look to defeat is the recovery of the nation, and a will for change that you are representing”. And now, they just don’t know what to do.

“While some of my opponents want to privilege the metropolises and to suppress a part of the departments for their benefit, I believe it is essential for the territorial balance to maintain the autonomy of the communes”. We’ve got some. But we don’t really hear much from them or about them.

Another poll, by Odoxa, on Friday showed Macron finishing ahead of Le Pen in the opening round.

The same poll showed that if Mr Fillon were to step down and be replaced by another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, it would be Mr Juppe winning the first round, with Ms Le Pen eliminated.

Earlier Sunday, Christian Estrosi, a longtime Republican lawmaker and major political figure in the south, said on BFM TV that the party needed to find a “respectful” exit for Fillon.

BEARDSLEY: Completely, Ari. The French election’s in two rounds.

Arnaud says that, like Trump, Le Pen is succeeding by painting a dark vision, a vision that appeals to people who feel that their way of life, their culture, is disappearing.

Penelope Fillon said she agreed to the interview to “put an end to the insane rumors”, including that the couple might be headed for divorce or that she had been hospitalized. But the second round, you choose who you really want.

It is unclear whether prosecutors will take legal action against Le Pen before this year’s presidential elections, which are held in two rounds in April and May. People are saying you can not play around in this election.

SHAPIRO: That’s NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley.