Fillon campaign donations are paid to his own 'private party'

When right-wing supporters make a donation to their now beleaguered candidate François Fillon they doubtless believe they are directly funding his election campaign. There is no reason they would think otherwise for it is on his official candidate's site that they download the donation form and it is to his campaign's Paris headquarters that backers send their cheques. It is only the 'payee' of the cheques, 'AFFR', which might give the suspicious pause for thought. For in reality the money collected on www.fillon2017.fr goes directly into the coffers of Fiillon's personal micro party – such mini-parties are commonly used by French politicians for developing ideas and fund raising.