The crisis on the French centre-right deepened this morning as the man seen by many activists as a saviour refused to run in the presidential election. In a sombre statement Alain Juppé, 71, the mayor of Bordeaux, announced that he had rejected calls to replace François Fillon, 63, as the Republicans’ candidate. Mr Fillon said on Sunday that he would remain in the race despite a criminal investigation into allegations that he used almost €1 million of taxpayers’ money to employ Penelope, his British wife, and their two children, in fictitious jobs. Claiming to have fallen victim to a political conspiracy, he is resisting pressure to quit and appears determined to battle on regardless of warnings that he risks leading the centre-right to defeat in…

Source: The Times March 06, 2017 12:01 UTC