A treatment “largely unambiguous“Election news: Europe 1, where the controversial host Cyril Hanouna presents a program specially designed for the early legislative election campaign, has received a formal notice from Arcom for lack of “measure” and D'”honesty“.
The star of C8, a channel owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, landed on June 17 on the businessman’s radio station to present a daily show, “We walk on the head“, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., ahead of the elections taking place in France on June 30 and July 7.
Last week, two days after the launch of the program, criticized by many observers for its pro-extreme right and anti-New Popular Front line, Arcom (French audiovisual and digital communications regulatory authority) reminded Europe 1 its obligations regarding “pluralism” and D'”honesty“.
On Thursday, the regulator estimated in particular that “the electoral news of ‘La France insoumise’ and the ‘New Popular Front’, coalition of the main left-wing parties“, y “has been treated in a systematically critical and virulent manner, often in pejorative and outrageous terms“.
In addition, the treatmentwas largely unequivocal, with most of the guests, the vast majority of whom came from the same political movement, making converging statements.“, according to the decision of Arcom.
Between June 17 and 26, sixteen guests on 29″represented or supported the parties belonging to the ‘extreme right’ bloc, against seven from the presidential majority and two from the New Popular Front“, details the Arcom.
“All of these elements reflect a lack of measure and honesty in the comments on electoral news.“.
Another complaint retained by the regulator: the broadcast schedule, “likely to attract large audiences“with words that”find a significant relay on social networks, due to the particular amplification given to these programs by both the publisher and the host“.
“Destruction of the Republic”
An effect further amplified by the brevity of the electoral campaign, underlines Arcom, whose decision has yet to be published in the Official Journal and which is supported by numerous examples.
Not stingy with his statements, Cyril Hanouna has attacked on several occasions the former socialist president François Hollande, candidate in the first constituency of Corrèze under the colors of the New Popular Front. He especially attacked his columnist Gilles Verdez, accusing him of “validate the Islamo-leftist strategy of La France Insoumise and therefore of the New Popular Front“. “They have a triple objective: the destruction of the Republic, the destruction of the country and the destruction of our civilization.“, he said.
“For the far left, there will be no limits (…) in the glorification of thugs. They are lovers of thugs“, added a columnist from “We walk on the head” June 21st.
Another called it “stupid” and D'”unaware” a person who had declared themselves opposed to the National Rally.
When contacted by AFP, the station did not comment.
In the Arcom disciplinary scale, the formal notice follows the warning and precedes the sanctions, to which C8 is accustomed, where Cyril Hanouna usually officiates. Slippages during its broadcasts have already earned the channel a total of 7.5 million euros in fines.
The latest issue of “Do not touch My TV“, broadcast live on C8 two weeks ago, was also the subject of a referral to Arcom. Cyril Hanouna played matchmaker by calling the president of the RN, Jordan Bardella, so that the Reconquest! MEP Sarah Knafo leaves him a message and demands an agreement for the legislative elections.
Scheduled for two weeks, his radio show should end on Friday at the same time as the campaign. It illustrates the bridges between the different media controlled by Vincent Bolloré (C8, CNews, Europe 1, the JDD…), which share many figures. Two former CNews columnists, Pierre Gentillet and Guillaume Bigot, are RN candidates in the legislative elections.
Cyril Hanouna Bolloré broadcast
