French representatives finally approved a law strengthening the legislative arsenal to confront foreign interference, while tension is growing against the backdrop of two wars Ukraine And Gaza.
Four days before the European elections scheduled for June 9, the bill was approved by a large final vote in the House of Representatives, with a majority of 138 votes to 10 against.
The law proposal specifically stipulates the establishment of a national registry of influence, taking measures to freeze financial assets, and strengthening the fight against interference through monitoring via algorithms, which is currently limited to combating terrorism. It also stipulates the freezing of the financial assets of individuals, companies, or entities who carry out interference activities.
Thus, representatives of foreign interests will be forced to carry out lobbying activities Franceto include their names in a national register with a set of criminal penalties for violators.
These measures include “material and moral persons who attempt to influence the course of public decision-making, or French official policies by communicating, for example, with parliamentarians, ministers, some local elected officials or former presidents of the Republic.”
As for the foreign entities that may be considered to be behind such attempts, they may be companies controlled by countries and political parties from outside the European Union, or foreign countries themselves from outside the continental bloc.
This register will be supervised by the Supreme Authority for Transparency in Public Life, and its work will begin on July 1, 2025, as this deadline will allow the institution to be provided with sufficient funds and staff.
Representative Constance Le Grape, a member of the party of French President Emmanuel Macron, and one of the authors of this law proposal, stressed that these measures are “essential and necessary, given the reality of the proven foreign interference in our country and its seriousness.”
In this context, the representative referred to the Stars of David that were spray-painted on walls in the Paris area, the red hands drawn on the Jewish Holocaust Memorial, and the “fake coffins” that were placed on Saturday under the Eiffel Tower, while suspected of standing Russia behind these destabilizing acts.
Prominent officials in the national security services of the United States have warned of the continuing threat of foreign interference in the elections, considering that Russia is still seeking to interfere or spread misleading information during the midterm congressional elections, expected in November, while it continues to invade Ukraine.
ظهرت في الأصل على asharq.com