French presidential candidate investigated over wife's pay
France’s former Prime Minister and current Republican nominee Francois Fillon is under investigation over €500,000 paid to his wife for a so-called fictitious job role.
The national financial prosecutor launched a preliminary inquiry into misappropriation of public funds, misuse of funds and concealment last week after satirical weekly Le Canard questioned how much work she did as her husband’s parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2012.
Investigators are carrying out a search in Fillon’s office after questioning himself and his British wife Penelope on Monday.
The centre-right candidate and his Welsh-born wife deny any wrongdoing. In a statement, he said that the information provided to the police will prove their innocence.
Mr Fillon said he was "outraged by the contempt and misogyny" in the newspaper's story. He also added that if put under formal investigation he would step down from running in the election in April.
National Front leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are seen as his main competitors for the position.