“It is unfortunately a ‘great’ French tradition.”The scandal over Mr. Fillon, he added, is “making the National Front’s day,” even as Ms. The difference is that, unlike Mr. Fillon, who has campaigned on a platform of probity and high ethics, Ms. Though a fixture of France’s political landscape for over 40 years, the National Front has never held power at the top, and so can position itself outside the establishment. Former prime minister Alain Juppé, defeated by Mr. Fillon in the November primary, was himself convicted in a no-show employment scheme. You are not just a deputy 9 to 5, you know.”The scandal over Mr. Fillon is unlikely to simply blow over.

Source: New York Times February 03, 2017 09:56 UTC