記者会見するフィヨン元首相
4月から5月にかけて行われるフランス大統領選の中道・右派統一候補の共和党・フランソワ・フィヨン元首相(共和党)が2月6日、記者会見で妻や子供への不正給与疑惑について「誤りだった」と認めて謝罪したが、大統領選からの撤退は否定した。
この疑惑は、1月25日付の週刊紙「カナール・アンシェネ」が報じたもの。フィヨン氏は下院議員時代、勤務実態のないペネロプ夫人にスタッフとして8年間に約50万ユーロ（約6000万円）支払ったという。また、2人の子供にも議員助手として約8万4000ユーロ（約1000万円）支払ったという。フランスではアメリカのニクソン大統領が失脚したウォーターゲート事件になぞらえて「ペネロプゲート」と名付けられ、連日報道が加熱している。
「フランス24」によると、フィヨン氏は会見で「給与の支払いは法的に問題ないが、フランス国民はこれ以上受け入れられないだろう」と述べ、家族をスタッフとして雇ったことは「誤りだったし、深く後悔している」と述べた。
しかし一方でペネロペ氏に勤務実態はあったと主張し、「彼女は15年間仕事をしている。給与は正当に支払われていた」と語った。
大統領選からの撤退については否定し、「選挙キャンペーンが今晩、新たに始まる。フランスを復活させる候補は私以外いない」と述べた。
フィヨン氏はフランス西部ルマン出身の62歳。地元国民議会議員のスタッフを経て政界に進出した。
シラク政権では社会問題相、教育相を歴任。サルコジ政権では2007年から首相を5年間務めた。政治的立場もサルコジ氏同様、右寄りのやや強硬な立場だ。法人税の引き下げや企業への支援を通じて経済の再生を目指す一方、同性カップルの権利を制限するなど、保守的な公約を掲げている。
フィヨン元首相の妻に不正給与疑惑
FRANCE-ELECTION/FILLON(01 of12)
Penelope Fillon, France\'s Prime Minister Francois Fillon\'s wife, listens as her husband delivers a speech in front of the newly elected National Assembly outlining his government\'s priorities in Paris, France, July 3, 2007. French financial prosecutors said on January 25, 2017 they had opened a preliminary investigation into the possible misuse of public funds following a press report about conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon\'s wife working for him as a parliamentary assistant. Picture taken July 3, 2007. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (credit:Philippe Wojazer / Reuters)
FRANCE-ELECTION/FILLON(02 of12)
Penelope Fillon, France\'s Prime Minister Francois Fillon\'s wife, listens as her husband delivers a speech in front of the newly elected National Assembly outlining his government\'s priorities in Paris, France, July 3, 2007. French financial prosecutors said on January 25, 2017 they had opened a preliminary investigation into the possible misuse of public funds following a press report about conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon\'s wife working for him as a parliamentary assistant. Picture taken July 3, 2007. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (credit:Philippe Wojazer / Reuters)
FRANCE-ELECTION/FILLON(03 of12)
French politician Francois Fillon, member of the conservative Les Republicains political party and his wife Penelope (L) attend a final rally ahead of Sunday\'s first round of vote to choose the conservative candidate for France\'s presidential election in Paris, France, November 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (credit:Charles Platiau / Reuters)
FRANCE-ELECTION/FILLON(04 of12)
French politician Francois Fillon, member of the conservative Les Republicains political party and his wife Penelope (L) attend a final rally ahead of Sunday\'s first round of vote to choose the conservative candidate for France\'s presidential election in Paris, France, November 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (credit:Charles Platiau / Reuters)
FRANCE-FASHION/(05 of12)
Penelope Fillon (R), wife of France\'s prime minister, and his daughter Marie attend French designer Franck Sorbier\'s Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2011 fashion show in Paris January 26, 2011. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (FRANCE - Tags: FASHION) (credit:Charles Platiau / Reuters)
FRANCE-POLITICS-RIGHTWING-LR-FILLON(06 of12)
Penelope Fillon, wife of former French prime minister and winner of the right-wing primaries ahead of France\'s 2017 presidential elections, Francois Fillon, is pictured after a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the tomb of former French defence minister and Fillon\'s mentor in politics, Joel Le Theule, on December 11, 2016, in Sable-sur-Sarthe, northwestern France. / AFP / JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER (Photo credit should read JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER via Getty Images)
FRANCE-POLITICS-RIGHTWING-LR-FILLON(07 of12)
Former French prime minister and winner of the right-wing primaries ahead of France\'s 2017 presidential elections, Francois Fillon (L) looks at his wife Penelope (2R) as they leave after a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the tomb of former French defence minister and Fillon\'s mentor in politics, Joel Le Theule, on December 11, 2016, in Sable-sur-Sarthe, northwestern France. / AFP / JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER (Photo credit should read JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER via Getty Images)
Victory for Francois Fillon at the Right-Wing Primary Election(08 of12)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 27 : victory of Francois Fillon at the right-wings primary election on November 27, 2016. Penelope Fillon at the headquarter at the Maison de la Chimie in Paris VIIe district. (Photo by Kasia Wandycz/Paris Match via Getty Images) (credit:WANDYCZ Kasia via Getty Images)
Victory for Francois Fillon at the Right-Wing Primary Election(09 of12)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 25 : Francois Fillon during the campaign for the right-wing primary election, last meeting in Paris before the 2nd round, with his wife Penelope on November 25, 2016. (Photo by Kasia Wandycz/Paris Match via Getty Images) (credit:WANDYCZ Kasia via Getty Images)
Francois Fillon's Last Meeting Prior the 2nd Round of Right-Wing Primary Ahead Of The 2017 Presidential Election At In Paris(10 of12)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 25: Penelope Fillon the wife of Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and candidate of the party \'Les Republicains\' during at his meeting at the Exhibition Park of the Porte de Versailles on November 25, 2016 in Paris, France. Conservative Francois Fillon faces off against opponent Alain Juppe in the second round of primary voting on November 27th, the winner of which will be named as the party\'s candidate for the French Presidential elections in April 2017. (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) (credit:Frederic Stevens via Getty Images)
Francois Fillon's Last Meeting Prior the 2nd Round of Right-Wing Primary Ahead Of The 2017 Presidential Election At In Paris(11 of12)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 25: Penelope Fillon the wife of Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and candidate of the party \'Les Republicains\' during at his meeting at the Exhibition Park of the Porte de Versailles on November 25, 2016 in Paris, France. Conservative Francois Fillon faces off against opponent Alain Juppe in the second round of primary voting on November 27th, the winner of which will be named as the party\'s candidate for the French Presidential elections in April 2017. (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) (credit:Frederic Stevens via Getty Images)
Francois Fillon's Last Meeting Prior the 2nd Round of Right-Wing Primary Ahead Of The 2017 Presidential Election At In Paris(12 of12)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 25: Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (R), candidate of the party \'Les Republicains\', with his wife Penelope Fillon during his meeting at the Exhibition Park of the Porte de Versailles on November 25, 2016 in Paris, France. Conservative Francois Fillon faces off against opponent Alain Juppe in the second round of primary voting on November 27th, the winner of which will be named as the party\'s candidate for the French Presidential elections in April 2017. (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) (credit:Frederic Stevens via Getty Images)