France's foreign minister on Tuesday accused billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, of "online harassment" of European leaders and warned of risks to the country's 2027 presidential election.
Jean-Noel Barrot made the accusation at a conference organised by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). He cautioned that ahead of the April-May election, in which far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has her strongest chance yet of winning the presidency, "the enemies of democracy will do everything to destabilise us."
Barrot said that those seeking to undermine democratic processes exploit divisions within European societies and weaponise contentious issues. "They exploit our divisions and exploit issues such as immigration, secularism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to stoke hatred and tension," he said.
The minister also singled out an Israeli company, which he did not identify by name, in connection with efforts to interfere in European affairs. He did not provide further details about the company's activities or its connection to the broader concerns he raised about election interference.
Barrot's remarks reflect French government concerns about foreign influence on its political processes as the country approaches a significant electoral moment. The 2027 presidential race is seen as consequential, with Le Pen's far-right National Rally positioned as a major contender in the contest.