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'Penelope Gate': French Twittersphere explodes into mockery and anger

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'Penelope Gate': French Twittersphere explodes into mockery and anger

Twitter users have been quick to ridicule the presidential candidate François Fillon for paying his wife Penelope Fillon around half a million euros to be his parliamentary aide over eight years.

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The Twitter hashtag #PenelopeGate emerged after the news that presidential forerunner has been paying his British born wife Penelope Fillon around €500,000 of parliamentary funds to do what many suspect was a made up job. 

Many people chose to mock the Fillons and in particular the claim that his wife has always worked "discreetly" as his aide.

"When you're too happy with your parliamentary job to respond to criticism"

"Rare image of Francois Fillon and his woman skin wallet #PenelopeGate"

"A job interview with Fillon: 
-You have a CV. 
-No, but I've got something better
-What have you got?
-The family tree

"Fillon, his priority is employment (of his wife)"

"According to Fillon supporters, this escalator works, but "it has always been discrete"

Others pointed out the irony of some of his earlier campaign messages...

"When Fillon talks about his wife:
'There is a social injustice between those who work hard for little, and those who do not work and receive public money'"

"When you embezzle €600,000, try not to make this kind of tweet...Total indecency:

One simply encapsulated what Fillon must be doing right now

"Mood"

Some pointed out that Mr Fillon isn't the only one in the relationship not putting in the hours

"I wasn't following, which member of the Fillon couple had a fictitious job in the assembly?" 

One user had some useful advice for getting through the presidential elections.

"1. Read
2. Laugh
3. Cry a little on the inside
4. Repeat every week for a different politician"

By Rose Trigg

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