'I am no medieval reactionary', France's Fillon says

The personal attack by Alain Juppe on frontrunner Francois Fillon, both known until now as mild-mannered former prime ministers, heralded a hard-fought final week of campaigning before the primary's runoff voting round on Sunday. The primary for centre-right candidates could decide who becomes France's next head of state. Juppe, a centrist who topped the opinion polls until shortly before last Sunday's first round, opened the war of words on Monday by branding Fillon's conservative social views