Italy and France face political shifts and disinformation threats

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing declining popularity among young voters. Polling data from Youtrend indicates that the Meloni-led coalition, including Brothers of Italy, Lega, and Forza Italia, holds less than 30% support among citizens aged 18 to 34. In contrast, the center-left opposition, led by the Democratic Party, the Five Star Movement, and the Left-Greens Alliance, commands nearly 50% of this demographic. Analysts suggest this shift is due to a perceived lack of economic opportunities for youth and a focus on security measures that disproportionately affect them.

Simultaneously, French authorities have identified coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting presidential candidates. The agency Viginum reported that three candidates—Edouard Philippe, Raphaël Glucksmann, and Gabriel Attal—were victims of propaganda designed to destabilize the political process. These attacks were linked to two networks: Storm-516 and Matriochka. Investigations suggest Storm-516 is directed by the Kremlin, involving individuals connected to the Russian government and the Wagner Group, while the financier of the Matriochka campaign remains unidentified.