Former French prime minister Alain Juppe ruled out a run for the presidency on Monday, boosting embattled rightwing party colleague Francois Fillon whose campaign has been thrown into chaos by a fake job scandal.

Alain Juppe, who may get a new shot at the French presidency thanks to a fake jobs scandal engulfing fellow conservative Francois Fillon, has a gift for re-inventing himself.

The European Parliament on Thursday lifted French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's immunity from prosecution over her tweeting of images of Islamic State atrocities.

Democracy is being threatened by populism and by those who "propose to build walls and close borders," France's foreign minister said Thursday in a veiled criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Emmanuel Macron, the pro-business candidate making fast progress in the French presidential election campaign, unveils his policy programs on Thursday as he seeks to capitalize on his conservative rival's woes.

The wife of Francois Fillon will be charged as well as the French rightwing presidential candidate over allegations that he gave her fake jobs, a source close to the probe told AFP Wednesday. 

An ally of France's Francois Fillon on Wednesday quit the rightwing presidential candidate's campaign, criticizing him for failing to keep his word after he refused to bow out despite facing criminal charges.

With the polls narrowing and one of her main rivals embroiled in an expenses scandal, far-right leader Marine Le Pen could feasibly become French president in May, senior politicians and commentators say.

Emmanuel Macron has emerged as undisputed king of the French centre ground, but shifting sentiment and alliances make predicting this year's presidential election as difficult as ever.

Macron, a 39-year-old former economy minister, was given little chance when he launched a new political movement "En Marche" last year ahead of a vote that was billed as a fight between conservatives and the far-right.

Suspected Russian cyberattacks on the French presidential campaign are "unacceptable", France's foreign minister said Sunday, adding it was clear that pro-Europe candidate Emmanuel Macron was being targeted.