The centre-right candidate is accused of using public funds to employ family members in fictitious roles REUTERSThe French presidential election campaign entered uncharted territory yesterday when François Fillon, the centre-right candidate, was charged with taking almost €1 million of public money for himself and his family. Mr Fillon, 63, was placed under formal investigation — equivalent to charging a suspect in the UK — on suspicion of misuse of public funds, benefiting from the proceeds of embezzlement and failing to fulfil a legal obligation to declare his earnings. Although he had said that he would pull out of the race if he was charged, he insisted that he would soldier on and said the criminal investigation was part of a politically motivated witch-hunt. “In this presidential campaign . the bullets are flying low,” he said during a meeting with leaders of the…

Source: The Times March 15, 2017 00:58 UTC