in France, the vote represents a “considerable target” of international manipulation, in keeping with nationwide safety | EUROtoday

The European elections on June 9 will probably be ” an issue [de sécurité] and a considerable target » foreign manipulation, declared Wednesday March 6, the Secretary General of Defense and National Security (SGDSN), Stéphane Bouillon.

“Besides the Olympics [Jeux olympiques de Paris, cet été], we are very sensitive to what is happening today in Ukraine, and the European elections will be a considerable issue and target for some of our foreign competitors”he affirmed before the defense committee of the National Assembly, without naming any country.

The SGDSN, dependent on the Prime Minister, will organize on March 29, for all French political parties presenting a list in the European elections, a meeting of “awareness of so-called hybrid threats” in order to address the risks “cyberattacks, information manipulation and foreign interference”.

Destabilization attempts from Russia

Concerning the Paris Olympic Games, the Secretary General specified that a series of exercises had been organized – simulating “cyber attacks, attacks on transport” –, as well as meetings on telecommunications security precautions to be taken ahead of this global event.

According to the Secretary General, hybrid threats are “those that we cannot attribute, that we do not see at first glance, whether they are cyberattacks, disinformation, offensives against our economic security”. “These threats are increasing and can even cause us to lose the war before the adversary has shown a gun, this is the old principle of Sun Tzu [auteur de L’art de la guerre]but it's much quicker and much more effective in making us lose a war and making us sink.”he concluded.

In latest weeks, Paris has brazenly denounced a collection of destabilization makes an attempt guided by Moscow, geared toward undermining public assist for the Ukrainian trigger.

According to info from World, the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) opened, within the fall of 2023, an investigation into suspicions of an try and destabilize the European elections of June 9. According to the weather gathered, confirmed by a supply inside the Ministry of the Interior, they relate to the structure of an inventory in France serving the pursuits of Russia and capable of profit from the assist of Moscow. Other European Union international locations could be focused by comparable threats geared toward weakening the anti-Moscow entrance born from the conflict in Ukraine.

In 2021, the French authorities created Viginum, an company connected to the SGDSN chargeable for monitoring disinformation throughout electoral intervals.