François Fillon meets with magistrates over jobs scandal, cancels visit to farm fair

French presidential candidate François Fillon has been summoned by magistrates on Wednesday investigating claims that his wife was paid for work she did not do.

According to Journal du Dimanche newspaper, Fillion has cancelled a planned visit to the annual Paris farm fair, Salon de l'agriculture, at the last minute to meet with the magistrates. The fair is an important event for candidates in order to court the French rural vote.

The Républicains candidate is facing allegations that his wife, Penelope Fillon was paid €830,000 in public funds for work as a parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2013 that she did not do.

Penelope is currently in custody according to website Mediapart and two of Fillon’s children, Marie and Charles, have also been interviewed by investigators.

The fake jobs scandal has affected the former Bordeaux mayor’s prospects of winning the presidency as he was previously seen as the favourite to win but in recent polls he has slid into third place behind centrist independent Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the first round on 23 April.

An Opinionway poll on Wednesday showed Fillon in third place at 21%, Macron at 24% and Le Pen at 25% in the first round.

The poll also showed in the second round Fillon would win against Le Pen with 60% to 40% of the vote, while Macron would win 63% to 37% against Le Pen.

A poll published on 28 February put Macron ahead of Le Pen by 61% to 39%.

Fillon will reportedly make a statement around 1100 GMT.