(ANSA) - "Penelope Fillon is in custody": this is what sources close to the Républicains party quoted by Mediapart report. A search is "in progress," the source added.
According to what was reported by the Journal du dimanche website, the right-wing French presidential candidate Francois Fillon would have been summoned by the investigating judges as part of the investigation into the fictitious jobs of his wife Penelope and two of his children. This would be the reason for his renunciation of the visit to the Agricultural Show.
Fillon cancels visit, rumors of withdrawal – Fillon canceled his planned visit to the Paris agriculture show this morning at the last minute and without the knowledge of his entourage. No explanation was given but Fillon himself announced a midday press conference. Among his collaborators there are rumors of an imminent judicial summons for the 'Penelopegate' and even rumors of withdrawal from the campaign.
Patrick Stefanini, Fillon's campaign manager, reportedly tendered his resignation to the candidate. It is reported by the Figaro website that he has contacted two members of the party. "But the resignation has not yet been accepted," he added.
Fillon summoned by judges for 15/3 – François and Penelope Fillon both received a summons from the judges for 15 and 18 March respectively: this is what Le Figaro writes. This morning, the right-wing candidate overwhelmed by PenelopeGate spoke to party bigwigs about him, including Alain Juppé and Nicolas Sarkozy. "It is the great return of plan B", comments a leader of the Républicains, quoted by Figaro.
