A “largely unequivocal” treatment of electoral news: Europe 1, where the controversial host Cyril Hanouna presents a program specially designed for the early legislative campaign, received a formal notice from Arcom for lack of “measure” and “honesty”.
The star of C8, a channel owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, landed on the businessman’s radio on June 17 to present a daily, “On marche sur la tête”, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in ahead of the elections of June 30 and July 7.
Last week, two days after the launch of the programme, criticised by many observers for its pro-extreme right and anti-New Popular Front line, Arcom reminded Europe 1 of its obligations in terms of “pluralism” and “honesty”.
On Thursday, the regulator estimated in particular that “the electoral news of + La France insoumise + and the + Nouveau Front populaire +”, a coalition of the main left-wing groups”, “was treated in a systematically critical and virulent manner, in terms often derogatory and outrageous.
In addition, the treatment “was largely unequivocal, most of the guests, a large majority of whom came from the same political movement, having made convergent remarks”, according to the Arcom decision.
Between June 17 and 26, sixteen guests out of 29 “represented or supported the parties belonging to the +extreme right+ bloc, compared to seven from the presidential majority and two from the New Popular Front, details 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 significant audiences” with comments which “find a significant relay on social networks, due to the particular amplification given to these broadcasts both by the ‘editor and by the animator’.
– “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 repeatedly attacked former socialist president François Hollande, candidate in the first constituency of Corrèze under the colours of the New Popular Front. He has especially attacked his columnist Gilles Verdez, accusing him of “validating the Islamo-leftist strategy of La France Insoumise and therefore of the New Popular Front”.
“They have a triple objective, it is the destruction of the Republic, the destruction of the country and the destruction of our civilization,” he said.
“For the extreme left, there will be no limits (…) in the glorification of thugs. They are lovers of thugs,” added a columnist from “On marche sur la tête” on June 21.
Another called a person who had declared himself opposed to the National Rally “stupid” and “ignorant.”
Asked by AFP, Europe did not comment.
In the Arcom disciplinary scale, the formal notice follows the warning and precedes the sanctions, to which C8, where Cyril Hanouna usually officiates, is accustomed. The slip-ups during its broadcasts have already earned the channel a total of 7.5 million euros in fines.
The latest issue of “Touche pas à mon poste”, broadcast live on C8 two weeks ago, was also the subject of a referral to Arcom.
Cyril Hanouna played the role of go-between by calling the president of the RN, Jordan Bardella, so that the Reconquête! MEP Sarah Knafo would leave him a message and demand an agreement in view of the legislative elections.
Scheduled to last two weeks, his radio show is due to 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.
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