Léa Salamé is expected to leave the 20 p.m. news on France 2 in September, until the end of the presidential election.

With the 2027 presidential election just a year away, Léa Salamé is expected to leave the 20 p.m. news on France 2 at the end of September 2026. This scenario, announced by le parisianThis scenario, presented internally as the most likely, is based on the assumption of a political announcement from Raphaël Glucksmann around that time. In this scenario, Léa Salamé would indeed return to the airwaves at the end of August, but only for a few weeks before stepping down.

This prospect is already fueling discussions about the organization of the evening news program for the fall. At France 2, the idea of ​​a temporary departure for Léa Salamé no longer appears as a mere possibility, but as a hypothesis being seriously considered.

Léa Salamé is taking a clear stance should Raphaël Glucksmann become a candidate.

For several months, Léa Salamé has publicly maintained a consistent position on this issue. The journalist states that she would leave the airwaves if Raphaël Glucksmann were to announce his candidacy for the presidential election. She explained that she wanted to avoid any ambiguity regarding her journalistic independence and leave no doubt about the neutrality of her work.

Jean-Baptiste Marteau appears to be the most logical choice

If Léa Salamé were to step aside for several months, Jean-Baptiste Marteau now seems to be the best-placed candidate to fill in from Monday to Thursday on France 2. Already established as Léa Salamé's regular stand-in, Jean-Baptiste Marteau benefits from an immediate knowledge of the format, the writing and the public's expectations.

This scenario presents an obvious advantage for France 2. By entrusting the 20 p.m. news to Jean-Baptiste Marteau, the channel would be banking on a face already identified by viewers, rather than on an outside personality or a new presenter who would require a longer adaptation period.

The Sonia Mabrouk lead has gone cold.

Sonia Mabrouk's name was briefly mentioned in speculation about a possible replacement. However, this possibility has not been confirmed. France Télévisions management has never given any clear indication of its support for this option, apparently preferring to rely on the existing talent within the newsroom.

Jean-Baptiste Marteau has therefore gradually gained ground. His profile as a natural replacement, already in place, is becoming increasingly apparent as the prospect of Léa Salamé's departure gains more traction.

Strong ratings that work in Jean-Baptiste Marteau's favor

Jean-Baptiste Marteau's credibility also rests on his on-air performance. When he filled in for Léa Salamé during her vacation, his broadcasts of the 20 p.m. news on France 2 achieved remarkable ratings. Across several newscasts aired at the end of October 2025, Jean-Baptiste Marteau attracted an average of 4,01 million viewers, representing 20,6% of the audience. During his first appearance as a substitute anchor, he even drew 4,12 million viewers, for a 21,1% audience share.

By comparison, Léa Salamé's first broadcasts as anchor of the 20 p.m. news on France 2 averaged 3,84 million viewers, with a 20,4% audience share. These figures are not enough to definitively establish superiority, but they do show that Jean-Baptiste Marteau is capable of effectively holding the time slot and attracting a large audience.