French election 2017: Who is Francois Fillon?

FRANCOIS Fillon will battle Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Emmanuel Macron in the French election this weekend, but who is he?

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Francois Fillon is the favourite to win the conservative nomination for the French presidency

Mr Fillon is a key contender in the presidential election despite being under formal investigation by the police.

The former Prime Minister has been charged with several counts of embezzlement relating to an alleged fake job held by his wife Penelope.

Mr Fillon hired his wife as a parliamentary aide but it has been claimed that she did not actually do any work for her six-figure salary.

During his court hearing, he reportedly told judges: “My wife’s job as parliamentary aide was not fictitious, and it is not up to the judicial authority to assess the quality or content of this work. 

“I am asking neither for exemption nor favour, only for respect of the law.”

Despite the scandal, Mr Fillon is in third place in the , with just three points separating him from the favourite, Emmanuel Macron.

With a third of French voters said to be undecided, there is every chance that Mr Fillon could progress to the final round of voting on Sunday May 7.

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Mr Fillon knocked Nicolas Sarkozy out of the race in the first round of primaries

Who is Francois Fillon?

Mr Fillon became the surprise winner of the Republicans presidential nomination after he won voters over with his hard line on immigration and Islamist terrorism.

His rivals in the primary elections made much of the fact that Mr Fillon was Prime Minister during the global financial crisis.

He held the role between 2007 and 2012 under President Nicolas Sarkozy and has been accused of failing to reform France’s economy during that time.

The conservative Catholic has called for a quick Brexit and would be a key figure in negotiations should he win the presidency.

Mr Fillon takes a hard line against Islamist terrorism and has published a book titled Beating Islamic Totalitarianism. 

He has pledged to reform immigration and renegotiate the  in order to strengthen France’s borders.

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Mr Fillon has called for a swift Brexit

An admirer of British PM Margaret Thatcher, he is economically liberal and favours pro-business reforms and tax cuts.

Mr Fillon was born in Le Mans, France and studied public law at the University of Maine.

His wife, Penelope was born in Llanover, Wales. The couple have five children.