François Fillon, Facing Calls to Quit French Race, Enjoys a Day of Gains
Nicolas Sarkozy, a former president who also lost to Mr. Fillon in the primaries, said in a statement Monday morning
that he wanted to organize a meeting with Mr. Fillon and Mr. Juppé to find a "dignified and credible way out of a situation that can no longer last." So far, Mr. Fillon has dug in his heels.
Ms. Fillon also said she had urged her husband to continue his campaign, as did the thousands of supporters who stood under pouring rain Sunday afternoon in Paris, waving French flags
and chanting for Mr. Fillon to "hold fast" because "France needs you." "It’s the union between the people and the future president," Franck Patti, 53, a project manager for the City of Paris, said about the rally.
He criticized Mr. Fillon on Monday for his "obstinacy," and he called Mr. Fillon’s dismissive response to the corruption allegations against him "a dead end."
But Mr. Juppé, 71, said that he was not the man to replace Mr. Fillon now.
Fillon said that If, by magic, the French had been able to witness what I’ve seen these last weeks, a wave of disgust would submerge them,
Patti said that The Republicans must see that Fillon is their natural candidate,
Fillon said that No one can stop me from being a candidate,
