France Unbowed (LFI) has decided to boycott BFMTV . The movement announced that none of its leaders would respond to invitations from the channel this week, denouncing both the treatment of its representatives and the editorial line adopted by BFMTV since the start of the academic year. LFI accuses the channel of giving significant airtime to programs where "racist views" and "climate change denial" are "commonplace ," as well as to far-right commentators.
The decision has immediate consequences: Mathilde Panot has cancelled her participation in the debate scheduled for Thursday evening, and Manuel Bompard will not appear on BFM Politique on Sunday. This marks a dramatic break with a channel where members of La France Insoumise were previously regular guests. Just this past Sunday, Mathilde Panot was on BFMTV, notably advocating for the lifting of the ban on abayas in schools.
LFI denounces program cancellations and "surprise debates"
The conflict isn't solely about the content of the programs. La France Insoumise claims to have been protesting for several months against the conditions under which its representatives are invited. The movement asserts that some of its members were removed from the schedule at the last minute, sometimes after they had already arrived at the BFMTV studios.
LFI also accuses the channel of changing the topics planned for certain interviews without prior notice, or of adding guests once the guest is already on set. The party denounces the transformation of political interviews into "surprise debates" and considers these methods "intolerable and disrespectful . "
"Racist theories" and far-right commentators
But the most severe attack directly targets programs broadcast since the start of the academic year. La France Insoumise accuses BFMTV of sinking into a "dangerous drift" and claims to have observed "the preponderant airtime given to programs during which racist theories or climate change denial are commonplace . "
The movement also denounces "the invitation of far-right commentators" and believes that BFMTV's editorial line increasingly favors themes promoted by this political group. This is a particularly serious accusation against France's leading 24-hour news channel.
The Rima Hassan case at the heart of the dispute with BFMTV
LFI is also raising the issue of media coverage of Rima Hassan's detention. In April, the movement filed a complaint with Arcom after BFMTV broadcast erroneous information regarding the possible presence of drugs among the MEP's belongings.
France Unbowed asserts that these accusations were circulated for several hours before being proven false and criticizes BFMTV for failing to broadcast a correction or apology commensurate with the initial coverage. The party maintains that it wrote to the channel's management and considers its response unsatisfactory.
Mathilde Panot and Manuel Bompard cancel their appearances
LFI claims to have repeatedly alerted BFMTV management. The movement now refuses to allow its MPs and spokespeople to be considered "columnists or expendable" and criticizes invitations intended, in its view, to comment on topics chosen more to "generate ratings" than to address the concerns of the French people.
Lacking guarantees from the leadership, the party has therefore decided to sever ties, at least temporarily. Mathilde Panot will not be present on the program scheduled for Thursday, September 10, and Manuel Bompard has cancelled his appearance on BFM Politique on Sunday, September 13.
The boycott could continue
For now, La France Insoumise is officially limiting its boycott to this week. But the movement warns that it will then decide on its next steps based on BFMTV's responses. With preparations for the 2027 presidential election in full swing, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon already making numerous public appearances ahead of the upcoming vote , the conflict between LFI and the channel could therefore last well beyond a few days.
The Insoumis (France Unbowed) party warns that it will not resume its usual media activities without a change in the situation. "Nothing will deter us from our commitment to creating the conditions for a dignified and high-quality debate ," the movement asserts, now awaiting a response from BFMTV.
