France's Fillon remains defiant as support slips

Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of the Republicans political party and 2017 presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, delivers his speech during a campaign rally in Pertuis, France, March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

PARIS (Reuters) - An embattled Francois Fillon on Wednesday accused his presidential rival Emmanuel Macron of seducing French voters without offering real reform, fighting to push his way back into the race even as opinion polls show his credibility crumbling.

Once the frontrunner, Fillon's troubled election campaign suffered another blow on Tuesday when magistrates put him under formal investigation on suspicion of misusing public funds.