Scandal-hit French presidential candidate Francois Fillon said on Sunday (March 5) he was staying in the race but left the door open to talks with senior members of his party - The Republicans, who are increasingly anxious about his candidacy. <br /> <br />In an interview with France 2 television, Fillon was asked directly whether he would stand down. <br /> <br />"The answer is no (to stepping down). I don't see any reason to do so and especially, I really think that revoking this candidacy will end in a political deadlock for the family that is mine, that is to say the right and the centre," he said. <br /> <br />Once the frontrunner in the presidential race, Fillon is mired in a scandal over his wife's pay, and his campaign has been in serious trouble since he learned last week that he could be placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds. <br /> <br />After a string of resignations among advisers and backers, the 63-year-old Fillon had been banking on a big turnout at the rally, on a square looking across the river Seine to the Eiffel Tower, to show his detractors that he remains their best hope to win the presidency. <br /> <br />Party leaders prepared for a meeting on Monday (March 6) to discuss the crisis ahead of a March 17 deadline when all candidates must be formally endorsed by at least 500 elected officials. <br /> <br />A senior politician from his party, The Republicans, had earlier said that several party heavyweights were about to issue a statement calling for former prime minister Alain Juppe, who lost to Fillon in November for the party ticket, to replace him. <br /> <br />Fillon went on to say that he was open to discussions. <br /> <br />"I'm going to take initiatives to reunite my family (political party) because this is where I'm telling you that I'm obviously not autistic," he said. <br /> <br />Fillon, who has denied any wrongdoing and complained of judicial and media bias that amounted to a "political assassination".
