( THOMAS SAMSON / AFP/GETTY IMAGES )PARIS—In a country that adores a good political scandal, the “Penelope Affair” is already a blockbuster hit. This latest episode in the constant kerfuffle of French politics stars Penelope — known as “Penny” — Fillon, the august, British-born wife of François Fillon, the conservative front-runner in France’s upcoming presidential elections. A French newspaper reported Wednesday that Penelope Fillon had received more than $700,000 in public funds over the past decade for an assortment of parliamentary jobs she never did. By Friday, he had announced that he would drop out of the race if he were formally placed under criminal investigation. “Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate — if my honour were harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation,” Fillon said.

Source: thestar January 27, 2017 18:20 UTC