The TF1 group “firmly” supported its journalist Ruth Elkrief on Sunday, victim according to it of “odious invectives and inappropriate insinuations”, after polemical remarks by the leader of France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, describing the LCI editorialist as a “fanatic” and accusing him of despising Muslims.
In reaction to tense exchanges on LCI on Sunday between Ruth Elkrief and LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard, particularly on the situation in the Middle East, Jean-Luc Mélenchon attacked the journalist by name on the social network Twitter): “Ruth Elkrief. Manipulative. If we do not insult Muslims, this fanatic will be indignant,” he wrote. And to continue: “What a shame! Well done Manuel Bompard for the reply. Elkrief reduces all political life to his contempt for Muslims.”
“Obvious invectives and inappropriate insinuations”
“The TF1 group firmly supports Ruth Elkrief and strongly deplores the odious invectives and inappropriate insinuations to which she is the subject,” wrote the audiovisual group, parent company of the LCI news channel, on the same network. “The TF1 group is wrong to support the journalism of accusations and obsessive invectives against someone absent from the set who cannot respond,” replied Jean-Luc Mélenchon, for whom “this type of methods discredits its authors.”
Before this online contest, the former presidential candidate’s comments caused a lot of outrage on X, particularly in the journalistic community. “Patrick Cohen and Ruth Elkrief targeted this week by the far right for one, the far left of JL Melenchon for the other… Who will be surprised? Shame on them,” commented the France Inter editorialist and deputy editorial director of EchoesDominique Seux, in reference to the indictment of France Télé journalist Patrick Cohen during an ultra-right rally.
Support from Pascal Praud and Apolline de Malherbe
“P. Cohen targeted by the far right, R. Elkrief by the far left. Journalists who are trying to intimidate because they are Jewish? So they wouldn’t be objective? Hazard ! We must collectively denounce these practices which threaten freedom of information and democracy,” wrote RMC and BFM journalist Apolline de Malherbe. “Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s attack against Ruth Elkrief is unacceptable,” also said CNews journalist Pascal Praud, on X. “Every journalist in France should condemn” these words “against one of our colleagues the most remarkable.