Additional investigation: why were the investigations into Rachida Dati and Gabriel Attal suspended by France Télévisions ?

La décision du groupe intervient quelques jours après la diffusion du “Complément d'enquête” sur Jordan Bardella. CAPTURE D'ÉCRAN DIGITEKA

On January 19, 2024, the director of information at FranceTélévisons, Alexandre Kara, requested that the investigations of magazines such as "Envoyé Spécial" and "Further investigation"  are paused. A decision that concerns journalists.

This is a rather rare situation at France Télévisions. As reported by Le Monde this January 25, Alexandre Kara, the director of information, requested on January 19 that the magazines ;rsquo;group information such as'"Special Envoy" or "Further investigation" "take a break from their investigations concerning the portraits of political leaders". This until the European elections scheduled for June 9, in France.

Journalists fear "a fool's bargain"

The public group indeed wishes "to give priority to debate broadcasts" and respect the fairness of speaking time until the European elections.

The decision calls out to journalists who fear "a form of blackmail, a fool's bargain, which may give rise to even more extravagant demands from the ;rsquo;future", reports Le Monde.

The decision concerns journalists all the more because it comes a few weeks before the rebroadcast of a program on the secretary general of the Elysée, Alexis Kohler. An investigation into Rachida Dati, new Minister of Culture, and a portrait of Gabriel Attal, the Prime Minister, were also planned.

"We cannot accept that the investigation work is suspended"

Le Monde also recalls that the decision comes a few days after the broadcast of the "Additional investigation" on Jordan Bardella. Broadcast which led to a formal notice to France Télévisions from the National Rally (RN).

The group's Society of Journalists reacted in an email that Le Monde was able to consult: "We cannot accept that investigative work (filming and conducting interviews for example) will be interrupted. It is about our independence which must be permanent and cannot be “paused”.