Francois Fillon, former French prime minister, member of the Republicans political party and 2017 presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, attends a campaign rally in Maisons-Alfort, near Paris, France, February 24, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
PARIS (Reuters) - French presidential challenger Francois Fillon will face a full judicial inquiry into allegations he paid family members for fake parliamentary jobs after the country's financial prosecutor said she was appointing a magistrate to lead a deeper probe.
The escalation is another blow to the conservative candidate whose status as favourite to win the presidency has faded since the "Penelopegate" affair - named after Fillon's wife - first surfaced a month ago. But it may not stop him from standing in April-May vote.
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