Macron accuses foreign leaders of electioneering as French unions plan November 5 strike

French President Emmanuel Macron accused unnamed foreign leaders, implicitly including Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, of electioneering by amplifying AI-generated content and misinformation about recent protests in France. He stated there was no visible foreign interference in the October 17 events but acknowledged subsequent manipulation. Macron noted that AI images depicted scenes that never occurred in France, with claims of invasion by migrants and Islamists. Meanwhile, Sophie Binet, leader of the main CGT union, called for a general strike starting November 5, saying the government ignored union demands after a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The EU is investigating potential online interference and disinformation campaigns from non-EU countries, including Iran and Algeria, that may have fueled protests in France and elsewhere. The Financial Times reported pro-Russian and far-right social media accounts spread violent videos to exacerbate chaos.