“Defend freedom of expression. » They are not afraid of big words. Six unions (CGT, CFDT, FO, SNJ, SUD, UNSA) at Radio France have filed strike notice for this Sunday. They intend to protest against the suspension of Guillaume Meurice, victim according to them of an unfair sanction.
On May 2, the comedian was suspended pending a possible sanction which could go as far as dismissal for having reiterated his comments about Benjamin Netanyahu made at the end of October. He compared the Israeli Prime Minister to a “sort of Nazi without foreskin”which earned him a warning from Arcom, but also a complaint, recently closed without further action.
In their strike notice, the union organizations ask the management of the public group “the end of the repression of insolence and humor” And “the limitless reaffirmation of freedom of expression” on its antennae. They are also worried about ” threat “ which weigh, according to them, “on popular and unique shows”particularly on France Inter…
The shadow of the fantasized extreme right
As we learn Humanitythe unions believe that the presidency of Radio France would be too permeable “to criticism of the far right, Vincent Bolloré’s media and the X account @MédiasCitoyens” (which does not, however, particularly lean to the right). They are calling on management to take “the defense of staff against all forms of external pressure and denigration”. And remind her of her obligations to “compliance by the employer with its obligation of protection and safety”.
Already on May 5, the CGT of Radio France denounced the management’s decision to suspend comedian Guillaume Meurice, seeing it as the work of an all-powerful extreme right. “What worries us above all is this unfortunate tendency to suffer, and now to anticipate, political pressures from all sides, coming from the fascist spherethe union then declared. We would not like to see Radio France slide towards self-censorship, or even self-sanction. »
Paranoia and double standards
Questioned about the Meurice case in the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, promptly brushed aside conspiracy theories and other delusional accusations coming from rebellious ranks. “In October 2023, Arcom warned France inter in a very well-argued manner following the column by Guillaume Meuriceshe explained to the Mélenchonists. Despite this, he redid his column identically […] Radio France could not not react. Arcom does not enforce the Penal Code but the specifications which are imposed on Radio France. » Crystal clear.
But the explanations and justifications, however relentless, will not calm the extreme left. The latter is not, in fact, characterized by its intellectual honesty. Nor by its consistency. Let us recall that the same Guillaume Meurice who today calls for respect for his freedom of expression did not hesitate to sign, last February, a petition demanding the closure of CNews. Hypocrisy, when you hold us…
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