PARIS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Despite efforts to turn the page of his wife's fictitious job scandal, presidential candidate Francois Fillon was still suffering a severe setback with only 16 percent of French voters thought he was honest, a survey showed on Wednesday.
An Elabe poll for news channel BFMTV found 80 percent of 957 interviewed people thought the conservative contender did not say the truth about Penelope Fillon job as his parliamentary assistant, down by 12 percentage points from January poll.
Furthermore, less than four out of ten French voters approved his presidential credentials to lead the eurozone's second largest power over next five years.
"These scores confirm a clear degradation of Francois Fillon's image," the pollster said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the 63-year-old former prime minister said he was upbeat to reach the second round despite allegation of misusing public fund which threw his campaign out of track.
"I am innocent...I am convinced that justice, even if it takes time, will establish this innocence," he told local media Radio Classique. "I won't be coming in third. I will be in the second round."
However, an ifop survey showed the embattled conservative politician trailed at third place with 18.5 percent, 7 points behind centrist rival Emmanuel Macron who is predicted to make it through to the presidential election's second round in May against Marine Le Pen, president of far-right National Front party.
The poll showed ex-economy minister comfortably winning the run-off with 61.5 percent versus Le Pen's 38.5 percent.
