“Nathalie Saint-Cricq votes. And you?”: a campaign by La France insoumise featuring on social networks a France Télévisions editorialist with presumed contrary opinions led to a referral to the courts on Thursday by the public audiovisual group.
“We can’t let it go.”
“Political attacks against journalists who freely exercise their profession are unacceptable. We cannot let this go: France TV is taking legal action,” said Delphine Ernotte, boss of the group, on X to obtain the removal of the visuals in question.
“Under the cover of a seemingly innocuous question, before the European elections (…), this is a personal attack and an unacceptable use of his image,” the Society of Journalists reacted on X ( SDJ) from France Télévisions, who denounces a “denigration” towards the journalist.
Manuel Bompard’s response
Questioned by AFP, Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of LFI, assured that “there is absolutely no attack or personal indictment in this campaign”. “It is only a question of making the French aware of registration on the electoral lists. Ms. Ernotte would do better to use the means of the public service to carry out an information campaign on this subject rather than attacking the France insoumise,” counter-attacked the political leader.
This Insoumis campaign, supported by a photo of Nathalie Saint-Cricq as well as other personalities, sparked reactions in the presidential majority and on the right. “These messages from La France insoumise against journalists are unbearable. Mr. Mélenchon and his friends hate freedom. They are a danger for France!” tweeted Eric Ciotti, president of LR, citing the posters presenting Ms. Saint Cricq and Pascal Praud, star presenter of the CNews channel. Mr. Ciotti himself was then targeted by LFI so that there would be “no jealous people”, according to a tweet from the movement: “Eric Ciotti votes. And you?”
“The rich”, “the racists” and again “the golfers” were also pinned, but without a photo, in a street poster campaign to encourage LFI supporters to register on the electoral lists.