THREAD: The French problem with Russian influence operations.
Now we can se how Russian influence tries to infiltrate the Yellow West movement.
Please read my thread below.
@20committee @edwardlucas @JulianRoepcke @john_sipher @evanoconnell @Kateryna_Kruk @RoFreudenstein
Now we can se how Russian influence tries to infiltrate the Yellow West movement.
Please read my thread below.
@20committee @edwardlucas @JulianRoepcke @john_sipher @evanoconnell @Kateryna_Kruk @RoFreudenstein
- We all know the usual French proximity to Russia through culture and people-to-people ties. Not only the French far-left, (part of the) left and far-right, but even the conservative right is deeply pro-Russian.
- So almost nobody cared when Marine Le Pen got Russian funding.
- So almost nobody cared when Marine Le Pen got Russian funding.
- Direct Kremlin funding of the French far-right did not discredit Marine Le Pen among French voters & establishment, which is just an indicator how deep problem there is.
- French intelligence often told their Eastern European counterparts: "Guys, the Cold War is over".
- French intelligence often told their Eastern European counterparts: "Guys, the Cold War is over".
- So there is no surprise Russia cultivated Francois Fillon, long-time conservative Prime Minister and then only his corruption scandals stopped him from being a serious contender aganist Macron in 2017. Again, his Russian links and declared pro-Moscow positions were all there.
- That is why I applauded candidate and then President Macron calling out Russian disinformation. That was a good first step.
- But I was skeptical about the Macron policy on this. Because Macron decided to avoid the real problem (Russian influence in French politics) and
- But I was skeptical about the Macron policy on this. Because Macron decided to avoid the real problem (Russian influence in French politics) and
.. and he focused on the easiest part - trying to push for a legislation on disinformation. It is an easy excuse showing- look,I am doing a law on this, instead of addressing the core problem.
- Macron wants a law possibly taking down several disinfo stories prior to elections.
- Macron wants a law possibly taking down several disinfo stories prior to elections.
- I understand that in such an environment, where despite all the facts Russia today is seen as an ok entity to align with, it is hard. Macron has to focus his political capital on saving the country from major internal struggles. So he chose not to really deal with this issue.
- Therefore, after decades of French neglect and ignorance of the threat of Russian influence, it is coming back to hit it hard by fueling and infiltrating the anti-Macron Yellow West movement.
- Ask Spain how it got to the Russian hand in Catalonia crisis.
So similar.
- Ask Spain how it got to the Russian hand in Catalonia crisis.
So similar.
