Advertisement Continue reading the main storyAs Mr. Fillon has plummeted in the polls, the presidential race has unexpectedly opened up to two maverick candidacies. On Monday, Mr. Fillon joked grimly that the only Plan B was “Bérézina” — a reference to Napoleon’s disastrous 1812 defeat in Russia. Mr. Fillon apologized to French voters for what he called an “error” in employing her, but he noted that many other members of Parliament hired family members. He suggested there was a conspiracy to deprive French voters of the “only candidate” who was proposing real change. Repeatedly, Mr. Fillon expressed his contempt for and anger at the news media.

Source: New York Times February 06, 2017 20:21 UTC