The far right National Front has accused President Macron of trying to muzzle the French press after he promised to bring in laws to fight fake news.
Marine Le Pen, the populist party leader, said that Mr Macron’s plan was “very worrying”. She wrote in a tweet: “Is France still a democracy if it muzzles its citizens? Who will decide if news is fake? Judges, the government?”
The conservative opposition Republicans party also attacked Mr Macron’s plan as “dangerous for press freedom”. “Does Emmanuel Macron want to turn journalists into his press officers?” the party spokeswoman asked.
The president’s proposal was aimed mainly at the Russian-backed offensive on social media and Kremlin-run news sites, according to Ms Le Pen. She was backed by Moscow in