The presence of the Insoumis on the news channel of conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré does not, however, come naturally.
“It’s a real debate that we had at home”comments movement coordinator Manuel Bompard, “we can regret it but there are people who are watching” CNews.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's troops therefore opted for a ” compromise “according to Mr. Bompard: “We go to the morning show and the big political show on Sunday, but we don’t go to the daytime shows with all the columnists. »
The Insoumis also refuse to go to a flagship program of the Bolloré empire: Touche pas à mon poste (TPMP) on C8 which brings together 2.1 million viewers on average and an audience share of 27.8% among 15-24 years old.
And this since the controversial host Cyril Hanouna insulted the LFI deputy (and former columnist of the show) Louis Boyard on set in November 2022. ” Jerk “, “tocard”, “you're a piece of shit”, he had said to him in particular. For these comments, Cyril Hanouna will be tried this Tuesday for “insults”.
“At the beginning, we found that there were interesting things at TPMP”notes Manuel Bompard, who describes this set mixing political debates and entertainment as “a place where we could reach a population that does not follow politics”.
In 2022, Jean-Luc Mélenchon went there to debate with Éric Zemmour. “It's not so much Hanouna that's the problem, it's more the setting of the show. We must not confuse the political moment with that of entertainment”says the socialist deputy Emmanuel Grégoire.
“I don’t go to CNews but I wonder”he nuances. “When you boycott a channel that represents so much audience share, I don’t know if you are doing your political family a favor”he adds.
A rare left-wing leader to accept invitations from Cyril Hanouna, on Europe 1 or C8, the communist Léon Deffontaines visited TPMP for the first time in May during the European elections.
And he was able to see the benefit, in terms of exposure, compared to traditional debates, when he went door-to-door a few weeks later during the legislative campaign, where he was also a candidate.
“The people who saw me on TV were at Hanouna’s. They told me: I saw you at Baba’s! »the host's nickname, recalls the PCF spokesperson. “This reinforces our idea that we have to go there. There would be a form of contempt not to do so”he adds.
And the interest seems to be mutual.
“You deserved much more” that 2.36% in the European elections, Cyril Hanouna told his communist guest, readily critical of La France insoumise, even calling him a “talented”.
