The journalist accused of having participated in the writing of the autobiography of the president of the National Rally was fired this Monday, April 29, after being suspended as a precautionary measure in mid-March. He denies having taken part in the project of the boss of the far-right party and will take legal action to contest his dismissal.
The ax has fallen. Already suspended as a precautionary measure by France Info for more than a month, political journalist Jean-François Achilli was finally dismissed for serious misconduct by Radio France, for “repeated breaches of ethical obligations relating to external collaborations”, said Monday, April 29, an internal Source at public radio, confirming information from the Point. “Jean-François Achilli will take legal action to contest his dismissal by Radio France, announced this Tuesday, April 30, Me François Stefanaggi, his lawyer. He will soon speak in the press to deny the inaccurate and unfounded information currently circulating concerning the alleged misconduct at the origin of his dismissal.”
Several “external collaborations” therefore, and not only that revealed by the Worldmid-March, and which initially led to his suspension : his participation in the writing of the autobiography of the president of the RN Jordan Bardella, participation which he contests. Afterwards, Release had notably revealed the “housekeeping” that Jean-François Achilli practiced for at least ten years for the communications consultancy firm Tilder, i.e. training in media speaking engagements for business leaders, notably for the SNCF or the Casino group.
The facilitator of Informed had reacted in the wake of the publication of the article by World accusing him of having participated in the writing of Jordan Bardella’s book: “I have not broken any professional or ethical rules,” he had written on X, denouncing the “brutality” of this “unjustified measure”. The 61-year-old journalist had confirmed in this publication that he “exchanged with Jordan Bardella”arguing that it’s something he does “with all political leaders for 25 years”. He added: “We talked, at his request, about what his expression could be for a book of interviews. I refused the project”.
According to THE World, Jean-François Achilli had actually refused this proposal to“common work” made by the president of the RN before the summer of 2023, but the daily also revealed that the editorialist had “nevertheless worked in the shadows, giving Bardella his memories, thus allowing the beginning of a text to see the light of day”. The head of the RN list in the June European elections, however, assured the World that “only (his) close entourage helps him write this book, for proofreading”. As confirmed Releasethe publication of Jordan Bardella’s book is still planned for next June, published by Mazarine, a subsidiary of Fayard (owned by Vincent Bolloré).
But the writing of Jordan Bardella’s book was not the only external collaboration not declared to his employer by Jean-François Achilli. Radio France notably learned of media training sessions with the director of Franprix Vincent Doumerc, around his appointment in September 2022. An activity which was part of a paid collaboration over a period of at least ten years with the consultancy firm. communications consultancy Tilder, as revealed Release. A case of “housekeeping” (these services, often paid and undeclared, by journalists for private companies or public institutions) while France Info had already been shaken by a similar case a year earlier, in which five journalists were sanctioned . Since then, Radio France has set up an online platform on which all public radio journalists must report external collaborations they would like to carry out. Rules, known to all, from which Jean-François Achilli would have freed himself.
Monday afternoon, Radio France news director Jean-Philippe Baille, during an editorial conference, confirmed the dismissal for serious misconduct of Jean-François Achilli in front of France Info journalists. According to a witness, Baille also clarified that there was no witch hunt in the editorial office. “It’s going to be rocky, but we have rules,” he also said, predicting that public radio would likely be singled out for the decision. Several right-wing and far-right titles, from Point At Sunday newspaper, have thus taken up the cause of Jean-François Achilli since the start of this affair. The journalist’s companion, the essayist Chloé Morin, also took part in a platform in Le Figaro to defend him.
Update : this Tuesday, April 30 at 7:25 p.m. with the announcement of the referral to the industrial tribunal by Jean-François Achilli.
