In the assembly hall in Noisy-le-Grand, Nassjonal Samling prepares to press ahead with local elections.

Denis Cretin-Gillet is the party man here in the city, which is about a half-hour drive from central Paris.

He says he became an activist in the far-right party to defend France's honour and interests.

The candidate believes that this willingness to defend France as an independent state is what makes the Russian Foreign Ministry this week They explained who they think should win the elections in France..

The National Assembly (RN) is the voice of the people, as Russia sees it.

– When Russia asks people to vote for us, it is because we represent a people who want to regain their independence. He says that Russia has the same positions as us on a number of points.

– All countries have the right to support us. This does not mean that we agree with everything Putin says.

The far-right party is likely to do well in Sunday's election, but many opinion polls predict it will fall short of a clear majority in the National Assembly.

Accusations of tight relationships

Cretin Jelly claims that Russia has no influence on the party he represents.

Admittedly, it was unpleasant to have to defend. A loan obtained by the party from a Russian bankHe confirmed that this problem has now been resolved.

However, accusations of close ties with Russia have by no means disappeared.

Earlier this week, Raphael Glucksmann, a prominent figure in the Social Democratic Party, accused Nasjonal Samling of In rather strong terms.

He claimed that the National Assembly is «The Fifth Column Book“For the interests of Russia, and that the party acts as a “servile ally of Putin in France.”

– It's just a lie. We've been hearing about these attacks for a long time, and they're getting more violent and more worrying. It's very shocking that no one believes in them anymore, says politician Nasjonal Samling.

Russian trolls and matryoshka dolls

But French intelligence believes that Russia is trying to influence the debate in France.

in June French authorities revealedIt's a new Russian disinformation campaign on social media, called Matryoshka, after Russian dolls.

in The report was published last Sunday. Other attempts to influence the French elections have been documented by the CNRS research institute.

The researchers analyzed 700 million Twitter messages to show how foreign accounts systematically tried to undermine attempts to form a common French front against the National Assembly.

It is difficult to prove with certainty how successful these influence attempts are, election researcher Jan-Yves Dormagen tells NRK.

– We don't have clear studies on how effective such campaigns are in shaping people's perceptions. But I think everything contributes.

With messages spreading on social media and fake news spread by online trolls — it's not hard to imagine that they're having an impact, Dormagen says.

A gift for Putin

What would it actually mean for Russia to have the National Assembly in power in France?

Political world Dominique Moisi had no doubts when NRK met him at the headquarters of the Montaigne Research Institute in central Paris.

“This would be one of the best possible news for them,” Moisei says.

– They don't just have the joker Trump who is closing in on power thanks to the support of the Supreme Court. But this could happen nOh, in a key country in Europe, a country that has become particularly “anti-Russian” in recent months…

The world of politics stops.

– This political revolution will be a gift from God to Putin.

variable signals

Nasjonal Samling talks about Russia differently now than it did a few years ago. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Marine Le Pen did so. She tried to change the impression that she was close to the Kremlin..

– It is too sudden a change to be taken seriously yet. There are many reasons to doubt what Bardella and Le Pen are saying about Ukraine, the political scientist believes.

As leader of the Nassjonal Samling party, Jordan Bardella is the party's candidate for prime minister. Marine Le Pen is considered the party's potential presidential candidate in 2027.

Moisi points to Marine Le Pen saying she wants it. We reserve the right to override the President's foreign and defense policy line. If her party wins the prime ministership.

This is believed to be evidence of a desire to reinterpret the French Constitution.

– Is it also a signal to Putin that France's line in the Ukraine war will change?

– It can be interpreted as such.

You will not send weapons.

Back at the election rally in Noisy-le-Grand, Denis Chrétien-Gillet says he thinks it's clear that things have to change when it comes to support for Ukraine.

We will not be dragged into a war that does not concern us.

– Do you want to stop support for Ukraine?

– We can support Ukraine, but perhaps with diplomacy and humanitarian aid. But certainly not by sending soldiers or weapons. Because that would be a strong signal that we are going to war with Russia.

– You do not want to send arms?

– Well, if we send weapons, they are intended for use against Russia. Then Russia might think it is under attack from France.