Satirical website raises nearly €4,000 for 'needy' Fillon

A satirical news website has raised thousands of euros to help a struggling French politician who had said he was ‘unable to put money aside’.

Former presidential front-runner François Fillon became the butt of the joke when the website Le Gorafi raised the online fundraiser to help him and his family ‘live decently’.

Despite earning about €20,000 a month and being gifted items such as €48,000 of suits, Mr Fillon was mocked when he said he could not save money as it came after the recent scandal where he was said to have paid wife Penelope and their children hundreds of thousands for work as parliamentary assistants.

The website – a play on the newspaper Le Figaro – published its story saying it had been contacted by people touched by Mr Fillon’s ‘heart-breaking’ situation.

“I live with just €700 a month so I know what it is like to be wanting, what Mr Fillon said has touched me,” said one note from a claimed jobless young mum.

Some people, the site claimed, even wanted to donate blankets, warm clothing … and suits, but possibly not worth €48,000.

In all, 1,674 people donated money to raise €3,630.10. Le Gorafi said this was being donated to charitable associations such as Secours Populaire in Mr Fillon’s home area of Sarthe and Planning Familial – plus La Cravate Solidaire, which gives suits to jobseekers.