Having explored the various '-gates' that are hovering over French presidential candidate Francois Fillon this morning, it appears his vow to keep fighting may just be about to end. France's Canard Enchaine reports that Fillon has been formally charged today with misuse of public funds (over parliamentary jobs for his family).
Since announcing he would not be forced out, Fillon's support has risen but flatlined.
Canard Enchaine says on its official Twitter account that Fillon is charged and says the news will be reported in its Wednesday printed edition.
Translated via Google: the Tweet from Canard Enchaine notes:
Fillon has been indicted on 14 March in the morning for embezzlement utilities, ABS, etc
Fillon’s lawyer and spokeswoman were not immediately available to comment.
The initial reaction to the news was the French stock market legging to the day's lows…
Fillon is not alone though, as Bloomberg reports that French tax authorities are auditing the assets of presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s family on suspicion that they undervalued two mansions near Paris, Le Monde reports, citing unnamed sources.
- Properties covered by audit are jointly owned by Le Pen, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, and other family members: Le Monde
- Audits focus on possible underpayment of wealth and inheritance taxes: Le Monde
Her lawyer Frederic Joachim told Le Monde that they contest the tax authorities’ claims and that one of the houses is in too poor a state to fetch the price claimed by the tax authorities.
via http://ift.tt/2nANNC1 Tyler Durden