"We are facing an institutional coup d'etat," Fillon told The Republicans party lawmakers at a meeting, according to one who was present. FURTHER ACCUSATIONSRefusing to abandon his candidacy, Fillon told a business convention that he would fight the allegations "until the end". Elabe predicted Macron would beat Le Pen in the runoff with 65 percent of the vote. Should Fillon make the runoff, he too would beat Le Pen, but by a lower margin, at 59 percent. The scandal has heightened investor concerns amid fears that Le Pen could win and take France out of the euro and the European Union.

Source: The Star February 02, 2017 09:38 UTC