France thwarts anti-vaccine-led coup attempt
According to French media reports, French authorities have dismantled a coup d'état orchestrated by Rémy Daillet, a French far-right leader. Daillet is also a known anti-vaccine conspiracist. "I am going to overthrow the government of the Republic, totally sold out to the money powers," Daillet declared in some of his videos posted on social networks. The ultra-right-winger recorded these videos in Malaysia, where he lived for the last few years with his wife and seven children. Daillet also spread information against the coronavirus vaccines and against Emmanuel Macron, whom he accused of "betraying France".
From the Asian country, he also created a network of far-right, even Nazi sympathisers and anti-vaccine groups. Daillet transmitted information to these cells via an encrypted communication system.
Daillet intended, through a project known as "Operation Blue", to take over the Elysée and Parliament. This plan was backed by 300 supporters, including members of the security forces. According to Le Parisien, "many policemen, gendarmes and soldiers on active duty, even abroad, showed a clear desire to fight against the executive".
As planned by Daillet, they would first organise a demonstration to provoke chaos, while armed militants, taking advantage of the situation, would storm the Elysée, the Ministry of Defence and the National Assembly. They would also take over a major media outlet to broadcast a speech by Daillet. According to BFM TV, the attackers also targeted coronavirus vaccination centres and 5G antennas.
The news channel adds that the ultimate goal of this operation was "the overthrow of the government and state structures". So far, 12 people have been arrested by the country's authorities. Daillet's lawyer said that his client "is the victim of exceptional justice and media treatment with a presumption of guilt".
Daillet has a long and controversial career. The politician was a member of the centre-right MoDem party, but later moved towards the far-right. The conspiracist has been accused of kidnapping an eight-year-old girl and carrying out attacks. During April he sent emails to several French MPs warning of an "inevitable popular overthrow" in the face of a "genocidal" government imposing a vaccination "that kills" citizens. The French Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) has described Daillet as a "disturbing guru" and a "fearsome conspirator".
This is not the first time that the French authorities have stopped a similar plan. In May, five neo-Nazi militants from the organisation "Honour and Nation" were arrested for attempting to attack vaccination centres. According to French media reports, those arrested were linked to Daillet. Some of the cells linked to the politician also prepared attacks against Masonic lodges.