Alleged Russian interference against French candidate

France’s security agencies have identified a Russian-linked disinformation campaign targeting presidential candidate Gabriel Attal, marking another instance of foreign interference ahead of next year’s elections. The operation, detected by France’s anti-disinformation watchdog Viginum, was attributed to the pro-Russia “Matryoshka” network, which is believed to operate under the direction of Russian state actors. The campaign, described as having a “high-degree of confidence,” focused on spreading false claims about Mr. Attal’s health and policies, using social media platforms to mimic legitimate French media outlets. The attack came just days after French authorities uncovered similar efforts aimed at two other prominent figures. A security source confirmed that a separate Russian-linked network, known as Storm-1516, had previously targeted both Edouard Philippe, a former centrist prime minister running for president, and Raphael Glucksmann, a left-wing European Parliament member and outspoken critic of Moscow. These campaigns, which spread misinformation about the candidates' health conditions and political stances, were all traced back to groups associated with Russian intelligence. According to a source close to Gabriel Attal, the attack was likely motivated by his public support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. The claimant, who has served as France’s prime minister since 2022, has consistently advocated for stronger ties with Kyiv and has taken a firm stance against Russian aggression. His commitment to Ukraine appears to have made him a target for Russian operatives seeking to undermine his credibility and electoral prospects. The disinformation efforts against Mr. Attal included posts on X, formerly Twitter, that falsely claimed he suffers from Parkinson’s disease and that he supports more lenient policies toward squatters. These posts were designed to erode public trust in his leadership and potentially influence voter sentiment during the upcoming election cycle. While the scale of the campaign was described as “relatively low-profile,” with only a few thousand views, the coordinated nature of the attacks suggests a broader strategy to destabilize key political figures ahead of the polls. Viginum, which monitors online disinformation, confirmed that the Matryoshka network is one of several Russian-backed groups engaged in such activities. The agency noted that these networks often employ sophisticated tactics to mimic credible sources, making it difficult for the general public to distinguish between authentic and manipulated content. This challenge underscores the growing threat of digital manipulation in democratic processes, particularly in countries like France, where social media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion. The repeated targeting of centrist and left-leaning politicians highlights a pattern of Russian interference aimed at weakening opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s center-right government. With the far right gaining momentum and positioning itself as a potential winner in the 2027 election, the French government has intensified its efforts to counter disinformation. Security officials have warned that such campaigns could become more frequent and sophisticated as the election approaches, requiring greater vigilance and public awareness.