France Inter has chosen Quentin Lafay to conduct interviews on its weekend morning show, notably at 7:50 a.m., as well as the 8:20 a.m. interview alongside Eva Roque. This choice raises questions about the public broadcaster. Quentin Lafay was, in fact, an advisor to...Emmanuel Macron and speechwriter for the head of state. With the presidential election approaching, many are questioning how the public broadcaster can entrust such a high-profile news program to someone so directly linked to the executive branch. Even if France Inter's lack of neutrality is hardly a revelation… During an election period, listeners have the right to expect impartiality from a public radio station. It's a failure!
A blurred line between journalism and power
The movement between political offices, presidential communications, and the media is nothing new. But when it involves France Inter, the leading public radio station, the stakes are higher. Can a former presidential advisor be placed in a political interview role on a public station without risking the distrust of listeners? Clearly not! By making this choice, France Inter risks handing an easy argument to all those who already accuse it of bias.
A very bad sign
France Inter is not an ordinary private radio station. It belongs to the public service. It is funded by taxpayers to inform all citizens, not to give the impression of maintaining comfortable ties with those in power. This responsibility imposes a rule: in the most visible political programs, the distance from public officials must be unquestionable. The appointment of Quentin Lafay sends the opposite message. It demonstrates a certain nonchalance in the face of a legitimate requirement: the neutrality of the public service.
