The editorial staff of “Le Figaro” demands explanations after a pro-RN editorial

MEDIA – All hands on deck at FigaroNearly a hundred members of the daily’s editorial staff wrote to their management on Tuesday, July 2, to ask whether the newspaper now supports the National Rally. “Does ‘Le Figaro’ still define itself as a liberal, conservative, pro-European newspaper opposed to the extreme right?”ask these journalists, in this text transmitted to AFP.

The question follows the editorial by editorial director Alexis Brézet published Monday morning, the day after the first round of the legislative elections. Acknowledging the large defeat of the outgoing presidential majority and the Les Républicains party, this editorial hinted at a preference for the RN, chaired by Jordan Bardella, over the left and the New Popular Front, in particular the leader of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

“Between Bardella and Mélenchon, who, in all conscience, will want to put an equal sign? The RN program is certainly worrying in many ways, but on the other side: anti-Semitism, Islamo-leftism, class hatred, tax hysteria…”writes Alexis Brézet.

Alexis Brézet was able to be ” misunderstood “

“We understood this formulation as support for the National Rally, unprecedented in the history of the newspaper.”underline the signatories of the text which challenges the management, in what takes the form of a mobilization of this type unprecedented in the history of the newspaper. “We would like to know if this position reflects a change in editorial policy.”they add.

This position remains in any case “contrary to the commitment made two weeks ago by Alexis Brézet before the Society of Journalists [SDJ] »say journalists from Figaro nearby Monde : the daily’s editorial director had then assured that the newspaper would not give any instructions in favour of one or other of the political forces to its readers.

The internal source in the editorial office indicated to AFP that the management, questioned on Monday, had not given a clear response, and that Alexis Brézet had been able to be ” misunderstood “.

“If we who work with him have difficulty understanding him, then what can our readers understand? Clarification is necessary, to say whether or not “Le Figaro” is favorable to the RN”added this source.

For her part, columnist Eugénie Bastié made it known, in an internal email quoted by The world, that she had not been “not shocked at all” by the text of Alexis Brézet, in which she has “ read no voting instructions”. An editorial also approved by his colleague from FigaroVox Alexandre Devecchio, reports the daily.

Asked by The worldRudi Roussillon, advisor to the Dassault group – owner of Le Figaro – for press and communication activities, does not see the problem either: “He has not the slightest observation or criticism to make on the editorial line of the newspaper.”

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