In recent years, EPDE witnessed the increasing phenomenon of politically biased, or fake, observation, a form of politically-motivated election observation whose chief objective is to mislead the public regarding the regularity of political processes or the legitimacy of an election result. Based on the evidence collected by EPDE throughout the years, the practice of fake election observation has been particularly prevalent among French politicians. Based on our methodology, we have identified 65 French nationals taking part in such efforts.

Authoritarian regimes organize and finance the presence of international “fake observers” whose sole function is to whitewash the electoral fraud towards both the voters and an international audience. Striking examples of this practice include the Crimea status “referendum” of 2014, 2018 Presidential “elections” in the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people’s “republics”, the 2019 Presidential “elections” in the so-called “republics” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian Presidential elections of 2018 and Parliamentary elections of 2021, 2020 Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, and others.

In the 2022 French parliamentary elections, we have identified at least eight candidates who have participated in politically biased election observation. Of these eight candidates, four have won a mandate in the elections. Based on their “fake observation” history, most of these candidates appear to have certain ties with the Kremlin. In particular: 

Bruno Bilde – a Member of the National Assembly of the French Parliament since 2017 and a Member of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (former National Front) since 1991. Participated in biased observation efforts during the 2018 Russian Presidential elections. Bruno Bilde has been re-elected on behalf of Rassemblement National.

Dominique Bilde – a Member of the European Parliament since 1 July 2014 (second term). Participated in biased observation efforts during the 2017 local and regional elections in Russia. Dominique Bilde failed to get elected on behalf of Rassemblement National.

Frédéric Boccaletti – a Member of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and a Member of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (former National Front). Participated in biased election observation efforts during the 2021 Russian Parliamentary elections. Frédéric Boccaletti was elected on behalf of Rassemblement National.

Sylvie Goddyn – formerly a Member of the European Parliament (2014-2019), a Municipal Councillor of Roubaix (2001-2008), and a Member of the Regional Council for Nord-Pas-de-Calais (2004-2015). She has been a Member of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (former National Front) from 1989, but was excluded in 2018. Participated in biased observation efforts during 2018 Cambodian general elections. Sylvie Goddyn lost out in the first round of the election, she ran on behalf of Reconquête!.

Virginie Joron – a Member of the European Parliament since 2019 and a Member of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (former National Front). Participated in biased election observation efforts during the 2020 “All-Russian Voting” in illegally annexed Crimea. Virginie Joron lost in the first round of the election, she ran on behalf of Rassemblement National.

Hélène Laporte – a Member of the European Parliament since 2019 and a Member of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (former National Front). Participated in biased election observation efforts during the 2020 “All-Russian Voting”. Hélène Laporte was elected on behalf of Rassemblement National.

Julie Lechanteux – a Member of the European Parliament since 2019 and a Member of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (former National Front). Participated in biased election observation efforts during the 2020 “All-Russian Voting”. Julie Lechanteux was elected on behalf of Rassemblement National.

Tamara Volokhova – a former model and currently an Administrative Advisor to the Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament, engaged in the campaign of Rassemblement National / National Rally (former National Front) to win the elections in Canton Strasbourg. Participated in biased election observation efforts during the 2021 Russian Parliamentary elections. Tamara Volokhova lost in the first round of the election, she ran on behalf of Rassemblement National.

See our database of politically biased election observers at www.fakeobservers.org.