The latest scandal to hit France reveals the hypocrisy of the country’s politicians

Former French prime minister Francois Fillon may be at the centre of a corruption trial but there is widespread antipathy towards allegations of wrongdoing, writes Nabila Ramdani

Fillon and his wife Penelope will be defending themselves against corruption charges (Reuters)

The family life of the conservative politician who was once a shoo-in to become president of France will be at the centre of a corruption trial due to be opening in Paris on Monday. Francois Fillon and his British-born wife, Penelope Fillon, will be defending themselves against charges that could see them handed multiple prison sentences.

They are both devout Catholics who pride themselves on their moral compass and deny any wrongdoing. But Ms Fillon, a mother of four, is alleged to have taken on fake jobs – including pretending to be her husband’s parliamentary assistant – so as to steal around a million euros in unearned cash, most of it belonging to taxpayers.

Mr Fillon, a former prime minister, was a Republican – the latest incarnation of the Gaullist party that is meant to represent the upright politics of wartime leader and former president Charles de Gaulle. His fall from grace – one that was the decisive factor in him losing the 2017 presidential election to Emmanuel Macron – could not be more humiliating.