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Putin: Fillon differs from other politicians

Fillon, who won France's centre-right presidential primary elections, is a high-class professional and can defend his point of view, Putin said

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon AP Photo/Michel Spingler

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon

© AP Photo/Michel Spingler

MOSCOW, November 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he considers former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon a special politician who is able to defend his point of view and a high-class professional.

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"In my opinion, Mr. Fillon differs from other politicians, because he is, at first sight, a bit closed person who keeps a low profile. However, in spite of his very European manners, in the best sense of this word, he can defend his viewpoint," he told reporters answering a question from a TASS correspondent. "He does that very consistently. In that sense, he is a tough negotiator. Of course, he is a high-class professional."

France’s ex-Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, earlier won the first important victory in a bid for the French presidency. On Sunday, he was the frontrunner in the first round of the primaries held by the center-right Republicans party to choose a presidential nominee.

Fillon chalked up the greatest number of votes - 44.1%, while Alain Juppe, Mayor of Bordeaux, managed to secure 28.3% of votes, and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy had 20.9% of votes.

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