Former Prime Minister Attal, the candidate of French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party for the 2027 elections, accused Russia of interfering in elections in France.
Criticizing foreign interference targeting candidates like him, Attal claimed that the Kremlin was continuing its operations against these candidates. Attal also alleged that Russia was supporting Marine Le Pen, the presidential candidate of the far-right National Rally party, and accused Moscow of stealing the French people's democratic choices.
"I think the Kremlin regime is continuing its interference operations against candidates like me while also supporting Marine Le Pen."
Attal claimed that similar foreign interference had also occurred during the 2024 European Parliament elections.
Government vows to combat disinformation
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said protecting democracy and combating foreign interference were among the government's priorities.
Lecornu said attempts to interfere through disinformation targeting candidates during election periods had been detected and that the individuals concerned had been informed immediately.
Recalling that a bill proposing to triple the penalties for those producing fake news and content during election periods had been brought forward, Lecornu said different political groups needed to join forces against foreign interference.
Macron will not be eligible to run in the 2027 election
Macron will not be eligible to run again in France's 2027 presidential election because he has served two consecutive terms.
Interference allegations also involve BlackCore
The Israel-linked company BlackCore has also emerged in discussions about foreign interference in France's elections.
BlackCore was accused of trying to influence the elections by spreading disinformation targeting mayoral candidates from the France Unbowed party, which made support for the Palestinian people a central element of its election campaign.
The French government launched legal proceedings against the company in March on suspicion of interfering in the local elections held that month.
