Two more suspected Russian interference operations targeting Gabriel Attal, one of France’s presidential candidates, emerged over the past two weeks. This brought the total number of operations targeting the Renaissance Party leader to four.
In one of the new operations, 10 fake news stories and newspaper headlines circulated on social media on Wednesday. The content included false information about Attal’s health and unfounded corruption allegations against the politician.
Another piece of content used on August 12 featured an AI-generated video projecting caricatures of the former prime minister onto Paris’s Pantheon. One of the caricatures was accompanied by insulting messages.
Philippe and Glucksmann also targeted
Other figures who also appear to have been targeted by similar operations include Horizons Party leader and former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, as well as European Parliament member Raphael Glucksmann. Both politicians are considered potential presidential candidates.
Criminal complaints over foreign interference
Attal’s lawyers announced that their client filed a criminal complaint on August 7 on grounds of foreign interference. Glucksmann also filed a complaint on August 12 on the same grounds.