[EDITION SPÉCIALE JMLP] Le Pen, media enemy number one

During the broadcast The moment of truth of February 1984, François-Henri de Virieu immediately presented Le Pen as “ a marginal person in the political game “. Unflattering, the label describes, more than the situation of Le Pen himself, that to which the media mainstream will try to contain it for two decades.

80s-90s: reduction to Hitler

Simple, effective: the reduction to Hitler, to Mussolini, to Petain will operate at full capacity. Le Pen is “ a follower of Franco and Hitler » (The World1984), « a repeat anti-Semite » (Humanity1990). Always in The World (1984), a file concocted by Edwy Plenel focuses on a very French anti-Semitism which would awaken with Le Pen – Islamo-leftism remained to be invented.

A peak in the enterprise of systematic demonization was reached with the Carpentras affair. A TV report (FR31990) relays the declaration of former minister François Léotard: “ We reject what Mr. Jean-Marie Le Pen says, because it is possibly these words that pushed these actions. » However, neither the president of the FN nor the FN were responsible, as the INA explains at the end of this article. In this story, journalistic investigation was deliberately left aside.

Special correspondent or… Special Deviant ?

Bruno Gollnisch particularly remembers a show Special correspondent (at the time led by Paul Nahon and Bernard Benyamin). “ Broadcast as if by chance the day before an RN congresshe tells BV, the program questioned various skinheads who said: “Of course the gas chambers existed! And if Jean-Marie Le Pen comes to power, eh…” Here are the zozos, unrelated to the RN, that television had found for disqualify the movement. »

Special correspondent will regularly take an interest in Le Pen, always one-sided – “ So much so that I renamed the show “Special Dévoyé” », remembers Jean-Yves Le Gallou, joined by BV. For greater efficiency, the written press ensures the promotion of each Special correspondent anti-Le Pen. Typical example of reduction to Hitlera 1992 report is described by The World as deserving to be broadcast in schools and high schools “. On the occasion of another issue ofSpecial correspondent (« Le Pen in the text » 1997), Libé remember that we “ cannot film, invite, interview Jean-Marie Le Pen like another politician ».

Laugh with Le Pen? Unbearable!

From “marginal” to “banned from the air”, there is only one step. In 1985, taking the pretext of remarks made at the BBR (Fête des Bleu-Blanc-Rouge) against journalists from the station, Europe 1 boycotted Le Pen for more than two years. An unprecedented sanction in the history of the media, tailor-made for the person who is media enemy No. 1.

In September 1995, Patrick Sébastien dressed up as Le Pen and performed a parody of Bruel: Breaking Black. A video is broadcast of Kersauson showing the sequence to Le Pen, who laughs. Reproachful, the paper press drapes itself in its dignity. Libé describes the show as “ tele-nausea ». The Parisian boycotted it by publishing a three-quarters white TV page. The CSA (the then Arcom…) notes that we have “ came close to inciting racial hatred “. We can make fun of Le Pen, inflict infamous caricatures on him – in 1987, The Monstera satirical monthly, expresses the wish that Le Pen would catch AIDS -, but we cannot laugh with him: Patrick Sébastien and Patrick Le Lay, the CEO of TF1were convicted in 1996 for “ incitement to racial hatred ».

2002: between the two rounds

During the two weeks of collective hysteria which gripped France, between the two rounds of the 2002 presidential election, the press was the order-giver and the sounding board. The front page of Libé poster ” NON “, as Humanity which, moreover, scratches Le Pen’s face. The World opportunely comes out of the “revelations”: “ The campaign of the leader of the RN awakens in Algiers the memory of torture » and, before the legislative elections, “ Le Pen, torturer in Algeria ».

The reactions of 2002 were the pinnacle of the anti-Le Pen media struggle. After such a display of insults and forgery from which journalistic ethics are absent, no other choice but to lower your voice. In addition, Le Pen handed over to her daughter in 2011. There was less interest in typing. And then… don’t events prove him right? The riots of 2005 and the attacks of the 2010s fulfilled Le Pen’s warnings about immigration and Islamization. What if Le Pen was not the devil portrayed by the media, but a whistleblower?

Anti-Le Pen hatred turns into a chestnut tree

Far from making amends, journalists continue to reel in the doxa: “ The bearer of scandals » (Libé2013), « Jean-Marie Le Pen, champion of convictions » (The Parisian2015) or France Infofor whom Le Pen’s career can be summed up as “ a political life punctuated by comments condemned by the courts » (2016). The words, worn out, no longer have much meaning. Anti-Le Pen hatred is turning into a mess.

When, in 2018, the first volume of his Memoirs was released (Son of the nationMuller Éditions), the press is almost respectful. It is the work of a “ torch “, more ” whether we like it or not, Le Pen is our story », écrit The Pointwhich sums up the atmosphere quite well. Jean Daniel sees it “ the new clothes of a happy fascist » (The New Obs), reflexes from another era because, in 2022, France Info dares to relay the opinion of the historian Nicolas Lebourg, for whom “ it is certain that Jean-Marie Le Pen was never a fascist “. All that for that!

And now ?

Asked by BVBruno Gollnisch laughs, remembering Alain Duhamel: “ For ten years, fifteen years, from 1980 to 1995, Mr. Duhamel assured that Jean-Marie Le Pen and the National Front would only be a flash in the pan. » With the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, a final media page is being written. We would readily recall his admonition from 1993: “ Gentlemen and ladies journalists, but what category of privileged people do you consider yourself to be? You are here to do your job! »