Léa Salamé is leaving the 20 PM news on France 2. The journalist announced her departure from the newscast on Sunday, August 23, following the announcement of her partner Raphaël Glucksmann's candidacy for the presidential election. This decision is directly linked to the official entry into the race for the Élysée Palace by the MEP and founder of Place Publique. The presenter herself announced her departure on air, explaining the reasons for her decision to viewers. "I know what my decision means for my partner ," Raphaël Glucksmann had stated when officially announcing his candidacy.
Léa Salamé withdrew as soon as Raphaël Glucksmann entered the campaign
Léa Salamé's personal situation became particularly delicate once Raphaël Glucksmann officially announced his presidential candidacy. Presenting France 2's main evening news program every night while her partner was running a national campaign would inevitably have raised questions about her stance on current political and electoral events. The journalist therefore chose to step down from the 20 PM newscast. This decision came immediately after Raphaël Glucksmann's candidacy announcement and aims to avoid any ambiguity during the presidential campaign. Her departure represents a significant change for France 2, where she had held the 20 PM anchor chair since September 2025, following Anne-Sophie Lapix's departure.
"I don't want my job to become an issue."
On air, Léa Salamé explained her decision and the consequences of her partner's candidacy on her own work. The journalist does not want her presence at the helm of the news program to fuel questions or controversies during the campaign. She had already had to manage this issue several times during her career due to Raphaël Glucksmann's political involvement. But a presidential candidacy significantly changes the situation: he now directly becomes one of the key players in the race for the Élysée Palace. Stepping down from the 20 PM news thus allows Léa Salamé to no longer be responsible for presenting daily news in which her partner will inevitably play a significant role.
Raphaël Glucksmann accepts the consequences of his candidacy
Raphaël Glucksmann also publicly addressed the professional consequences of his decision for his partner. In announcing his candidacy, he acknowledged that entering the presidential race would have a direct impact on Léa Salamé's career. "I know what my decision means for my partner ," he stated. The MEP is thus taking a decisive step after several years during which his name was regularly mentioned among the possible candidates for the next presidential election. His official announcement now profoundly alters his political status and, consequently, Léa Salamé's professional situation.
France 2 now has to reorganize its 20pm news program
Léa Salamé's departure is forcing France Télévisions to reorganize its most high-profile news program. The journalist took over the 20 PM news on France 2 in the fall of 2025, after several years hosting shows such as " Quelle époque!" and the morning program on France Inter. The question of her replacement as news anchor is now being raised. France Télévisions must ensure the continuity of the 20 PM news as the presidential campaign gradually occupies an increasingly prominent place in the news. For Léa Salamé, Raphaël Glucksmann's candidacy has an immediate consequence: less than a year after taking the helm of the 20 PM news, the journalist is leaving one of the most prestigious positions in French television news in order to distance herself from the daily coverage of the presidential battle.
