French President says rightwing candidate lacks 'dignity' after smear charge

pulse

March 24, 2017 1:41 PM

Fillon late Thursday accused Hollande of orchestrating media leaks that have dented his image as a scandal-free leader.

French rightwing presidential candidate Francois Fillon (pictured) has accused President Francois Hollande of orchestrating media leaks that have dented his image

French President Francois Hollande said Friday rightwing presidential candidate Francois Fillon had exceeded the bounds of "dignity and responsibility" by accusing him of being behind a smear campaign.

"I don't want to enter the electoral debate... but there is a dignity, a responsiblity to respect," Hollande, a Socialist, told French radio a month ahead of the presidential election. "Fillon is beyond that now."

"It's been two months that the press had been flinging mud at me," he told France 2 in a prime-time television interview.

He said that Hollande -- who decided in December not to run for re-election -- headed a "secret cabinet" that was responsible for explosive revelations, notably about hiring his wife for allegedly fake jobs on the public payroll.

"Listen, there is a cabinet, thankfully, that works," Hollande said. "You know my position, it has always been for the independence of the judiciary, respect for the presumption of innocence and never to interfere."

An investigation into the fake jobs scandal that first emerged in the satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine in January has led to Fillon being charged this month with misuse of public funds.

Though an MP employing a family member is not illegal in France, Fillon's wife Penelope is accused of doing little for the 680,000 euros ($725,000) she received in salary.

Fillon was the frontrunner in the election before the scandal broke, and now is not expected to get past the first round on April 23.

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