Tens of thousands of François Fillon’s supporters braved driving rain and wind at a make-or-break rally in Paris on Sunday, prompting the scandal-hit French presidential candidate to vow to fight on despite moves to oust him from the presidential race.

Senior party figures are to hold crisis talks on Monday that could see Mr Fillon replaced by the man he beat in the November primaries, Alain Juppé, a former prime minister.

“They think I’m alone. They want me to be alone,” Mr Fillon told the crowd opposite the Eiffel Tower. As the beleaguered conservative candidate began speaking, the rain stopped.