A viral video circulating on social media platforms, particularly X, has falsely attributed serious allegations of cocaine addiction to French politician Gabriel Attal, claiming these statements were made by his political rival, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe. The claims suggest that Attal participates in public meetings under the influence of narcotics, citing a purported quote from the book 'Le Crépuscule des princes' (The Twilight of Princes). However, verification by journalists Pauline Théveniaud of RTL and Jérémy Marot of AFP confirms that these quotes do not appear in the book. The only mention of drug-related issues in literature concerning Attal is found in his own memoir, 'En homme libre,' where he discusses his father's past struggles with gambling and drugs, not his own. [3] [2]
Journalist Jérémy Marot confirmed to 20 Minutes that the allegations are false and linked the dissemination of this misinformation to Storm-1516, a known Russian propaganda group. Since 2023, Storm-1516 has been responsible for numerous disinformation campaigns targeting France, aiming to destabilize the country and interfere in its political processes. This specific campaign is part of a broader pattern of Russian interference, which has previously led to an investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor's office in August 2026 regarding suspicions of foreign interference against both Philippe and Attal. [2]
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- 20 Minutes Philippe accuse Attal de consommer de la cocaïne ? Encore une trace d’ingérence russe dans la présidentielle française
- 20 Minutes Philippe accuse Attal de consommer de la cocaïne ? Encore une trace d’ingérence russe dans la présidentielle française
- fr.news.yahoo.com Philippe accuse Attal de consommer de la cocaïne ? Encore une trace d’ingérence russe dans la présidentielle française
