Radio France: Catherine Pgard warns against a “witch hunt” after the controversy on France Inter

“We need to hear his words.” The Minister of Culture, Catherine Pgard, warned this Friday against “the witch hunt” after the opposition of the staff of the public group Radio France to the arrival of a manager of the magazine Valeurs Acteurs as editorialist on France Inter.

“There to express an opinion”

“The trial of intent is still quite unpleasant, the witch hunt is always unpleasant and I think that if we have chosen this columnist, we must hear his words”, which must be “neither words of hatred, nor words of political combat”, declared the minister on RTL.

“The France Inter house must be open […]. Editorialists are there to express an opinion, their own, not necessarily that of the newspapers in which they work […]. I observe that this pluralism is respected in the return of France Inter,” she said, judging that “during this election year, there must be debate.”

A “categorical refusal” from staff

France Inter, radio audience leader in France, has been in turmoil since the announcement of the arrival of Charles Sapin, new deputy editorial director of the magazine Valeurs Acteurs, for a political editorial every Sunday.

The inter-union association of the public group Radio France, of which France Inter is a part, has filed a strike notice for Sunday September 13 and Monday September 14, requesting the withdrawal of its column. In a motion adopted unanimously on Wednesday, Radio France staff expressed their “categorical refusal” of the arrival of Charles Sapin on the air, judging that his magazine carried values ​​that were not “compatible” with those of the public group.