French authorities have launched investigations into suspected disinformation campaigns targeting prominent potential candidates in the country’s 2027 presidential election, amid growing concerns over foreign interference in the electoral process.
The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into alleged disinformation operations targeting former prime ministers Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, according to Agence France-Presse.
Both politicians, who are prominent contenders for the 2027 presidential race, were reportedly targeted by fabricated reports circulated on social media earlier this summer in an apparent effort to undermine their political standing.
Fake videos posted on X using the branding of major French news outlets falsely claimed that Philippe, who has alopecia, had been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease. Separate posts on X and TikTok falsely alleged that Attal had Parkinson’s disease and was using drugs.
Attal publicly denounced the claims as false and filed a complaint. Philippe has not commented publicly on the reports, although senior allies have suggested that the campaign may have been linked to Russian interference.
France’s Viginum agency, which monitors foreign digital interference, has identified Russia-affiliated networks Storm-1516 and Matriochka as suspected actors behind the campaigns targeting Philippe and Attal, respectively.
The investigation comes amid heightened scrutiny in France over attempts by foreign actors to manipulate political debate and influence public opinion ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Center-left European Parliament member and potential presidential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann has also been targeted by a similar disinformation campaign. The Paris prosecutor’s office opened a separate investigation into that case earlier this month.
The investigations underscore growing concerns among French authorities and political leaders that coordinated foreign disinformation operations could become an increasingly significant factor in the run-up to the 2027 election.
