Russian interference targets French presidential hopeful Gabriel Attal

Gabriel Attal, the leader of the Renaissance party and a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election, has become the latest target of foreign interference operations originating from Russia. His campaign is reportedly being subjected to efforts aimed at destabilization, occurring just eight months before the first round of voting.

Attal's team confirmed they were informed by the General Secretariat for National Defense and Security (SGDSN) about "external interference originating from Russia and from entities linked to the Russian central power, targeting Gabriel Attal." The security services identified these operations as attempts to disrupt the political landscape.

According to a security source, the interference campaign remained "little visible," with only a few thousand views recorded. Despite its limited reach, the operation was significant enough to be detected and flagged by French national security agencies. This indicates a coordinated effort to undermine key political figures in France.

The targeting of Attal follows similar incidents in recent days. Édouard Philippe, the head of Horizons and another contender for the presidency, and Raphaël Glucksmann, a likely left-wing candidate, have also been subjected to online destabilization campaigns attributed to Russia. These repeated incidents highlight a pattern of foreign interference aimed at influencing the French presidential race.

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We have been informed by the General Secretariat for National Defense and Security of external interference originating from Russia and from entities linked to the Russian central power, targeting Gabriel Attal