The French foreign minister stated that France will not tolerate foreign interference in the presidential elections, in the context of a Russian campaign against the candidates.

Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister, warned that France will not tolerate any foreign interference in its electoral process, with eight months before the presidential elections. His statements come in response to criticisms from leftist leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who accused the government of a lack of firmness in the face of external manipulations.

Barrot emphasized that there have recently been attempts at destabilization by pro-Russian networks, targeting several candidates, including Edouard Philippe, Raphaël Glucksmann, and Gabriel Attal. Additionally, the minister highlighted the need to distinguish between the expression of political preferences by foreign officials and actual interference in public debate. He stressed that the solution includes regulating social media platforms to prevent online manipulations.