The announced appearance of Eugénie Bastié on France 2, in the political program The Moment of Truth, sparks controversy within France Télévisions. The journalist from Figaro And the CNews commentator is to be among the journalists tasked with interviewing political figures on set. A choice that immediately sparked criticism, notably from the France Télévisions Journalists' Association.
The SDJ denounces a journalist who is too politically biased.
In a statement, the journalists' union (SDJ) argues that Eugénie Bastié does not fit the profile expected for a political program on public television. It criticizes her for expressing conservative and sovereigntist views in her editorials and on social media. The SDJ maintains that the expression of political opinions should be the prerogative of the candidates themselves, and not of the journalists tasked with interviewing them.
She also criticizes the fact that a columnist who has repeatedly attacked public broadcasting can be paid by France Télévisions.
A position that resembles censorship.
This stance gives the journalists' union the appearance of a censor. Rather than judging Eugénie Bastié on her work on the program, they are challenging her presence even before she actually appears. The statement amounts to imposing an ideological limit: certain journalistic profiles are deemed acceptable on public television, others not, based on their supposed or stated opinions. And strangely enough, when journalists hold left-leaning views, like Patrick Cohen, to name just one, this doesn't seem to bother the union.
The political left is getting involved.
The controversy was also amplified by left-wing politicians, particularly from La France Insoumise. MP Thomas Portes criticized Eugénie Bastié's appearance on a France 2 program. Others denounced the arrival of a journalist from CNews and Le Figaro at the public broadcaster.
Eugénie Bastié responds curtly
Faced with criticism, Eugénie Bastié responded directly. She stated that she was not "Nobody's pawn"responding in particular to Thomas Portes by accusing him of being himself the "little soldier" of a political movement that would make contempt for journalists its trademark.
Pluralism in question
Behind this affair, the question of pluralism in public broadcasting is once again raised. Can France Télévisions invite journalists with diverse perspectives to interview political leaders? Or should certain profiles be excluded on the grounds that they are too ideologically biased? By contesting Eugénie Bastié's presence even before the program aired, the journalists' union (SDJ) gives the impression of wanting to filter the journalists authorized to participate in the public debate on public television. And their indignation seems to vary depending on their political leanings…
