‘Never give up,’ Fillon tells supporters at Paris rally

PARIS: Embattled French conservative Francois Fillon told supporters Sunday to “never give up the fight” and gave no indication that he intends to quit the presidential election race over an expenses scandal.

He apologized to his supporters, saying that among the judicial investigation “you have been forgotten,” but the 63-year-old said he was confident he would be proved innocent.

A senior politician from Fillon’s conservative camp said on Sunday that several party heavyweights were about to issue a



statement calling for Prime Minister Alain Juppe to replace him.

Once the frontrunner, Fillon is mired in a scandal over his wife’s pay, and his campaign has been in serious trouble since he learned last week that he could be placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds. He is under growing pressure as party leaders prepare a crisis meeting for Monday to discuss the situation ahead of a March 17 deadline when all presidential candidates must be formally endorsed by at least 500 elected officials.