An hour after the EU elections, in which the right-wing populist National Gathering party became twice as big as the ruling Renässans party, President Emmanuel Macron called for new elections.
A few hours later, an article appeared on an anonymous news site with roots in Russia. The website has since the spring of 2022 attacked Western countries with Russian propaganda, states EU Desinfolab which reviews advocacy campaigns.
Elections in France 2024
List: Three blocks that could take power in France
In focus: The French power struggle – EU-friendly President Macron and right-wing nationalist Tiktok favorite Jordan Bardella
Over a thousand bots spread propaganda
In the article, Macron is presented as a failed politician and a new government is presented as the solution to all the country’s problems, according to the pro-Russian disinformation.
The article was subsequently spread on social media platform X by a pro-Russian bot network known as “Doppelgänger”. A campaign monitored by the Russian opposition think tank Antibot4Navalny.
With the help of their data, SVT can determine that 108 unique articles of more than a thousand pro-Russian bots were spread over a period of two weeks. Articles that want to convince the French to vote for the right-wing parties in the upcoming election.
Different methods – same goal
The influence campaign continues and uses various tools in addition to the news articles with Russian propaganda. Among other things, pictures of various celebrities with falsified quotes are spread.
Pro-Russian bots are spreading images of singer Taylor Swift with a fake quote calling the upcoming Olympic Games in France a political and shameful project. Pictures of Beyoncé spread with a false quote that Macron is a puppet controlled by other countries. Photo: X
There is also an interview with the French actor Francois Cluzet, known from the film “An unexpected friendship”, with a dubbed English voice that wants to give the impression that Cluzet is criticizing Macron’s statement that Ukraine must not give up.
“Losing to Russia is a utopia, Mr. Macron,” says the dubbed voice.
SVT finds the original clip where Cluzet, unlike what the dubbed version claims, talks about his childhood.
The interview circulated by the pro-Russian bot network is genuine, but the dubbed voice does not say at all what the actor said. Photo: X/TFI Info
Macron is painted black and the right is rewarded
SVT’s analysis shows that the main purpose of the ongoing disinformation campaign is to smear French President Macron and at the same time elevate the right-wing nationalist party National Gathering.
Of 108 analyzed articles, Macron is mentioned 63 times, of which 59 times in a negative context. According to the pro-Russian propaganda, Macron cares more about the war in Ukraine than solving France’s own problems.
National Assembly, the party’s former leader Marine Le Pen and current leader Jordan Bardella, are mentioned a total of 62 times, never in a negative context.
Pro-Russian propaganda also sneaks into articles with beauty tips – see our review in the video above.