Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Defends Controversial Radio France Incident
Under fire from opposition critics, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is seeking to put an end to the controversy surrounding his unplanned appearance at a Radio France event. Accused of machismo after joining Valérie Hayer, the majority candidate for the European elections, during her interview with journalists, Attal defends his actions and calls for understanding of what Hayer 'felt' herself during the episode.
The controversy started after Attal, having just finished his interview on France Info, decided to join Valérie Hayer in the middle of her conversation with journalists at the Auditorium of Maison de la Radio. This surprise intervention, lasting just a few minutes, sparked anger among opposition parties across the political spectrum, accusing the Prime Minister of sexism and overshadowing Hayer’s candidacy.
Addressing the backlash, Attal, during an interview on France 2, stated, 'I take responsibility for my actions. I have been involved from the start alongside Valérie Hayer because I believe in her.' He emphasized his long-standing support for Hayer, highlighting her influence and importance in the European Parliament. Attal further mentioned that he joined the interview at the behest of Radio France's management, who encouraged him to greet both Hayer and the young audience members present.
Gabriel Attal also dismissed claims of sexism from his opposition, especially from male rivals explaining their interpretations of what Hayer must have felt. Attal quoted Hayer, 'Maybe sexism is thinking instead, and I was delighted that the Prime Minister came to my side.' Hayer herself expressed pride in having Attal support her and dismissed accusations of frustration, critiquing those offering 'lessons in feminism'.
Opposition leaders remain critical, with François-Xavier Bellamy of the Republicans and Jordan Bardella of the RN denouncing Attal’s actions. Attal hit back, highlighting their stances on women's rights, which he deemed contradictory to their criticisms of sexism. He reiterated the high stakes of the upcoming European elections, emphasizing the need to prevent the far right from gaining more power.
Amidst the political fallout, the SNJ-CGT union at Radio France also voiced its concerns over the incident, seeing it as a threat to the independence of public broadcasting. They criticized the intrusion as reminiscent of the ORTF era, when government interference in media was common, and they argued that it could set a worrying precedent for the future of public journalism.
- Critics argue that the incident goes beyond just the political arena, highlighting broader issues of governmental influence over public media. The SNJ-CGT union has taken a firm stance, suggesting such actions compromise the autonomy of public broadcasting entities.
- The union's disapproval is also seen in their continued opposition to proposed reforms aimed at merging public broadcasting entities. They argue that these changes could make political intervention more common and threaten journalistic independence, emphasizing that media should serve citizens, not political agendas. This event has only added fuel to their ongoing resistance against the proposed mergers.
- As the Broader European elections approach, Attal's controversial move may have lasting effects on both political alliances and public perception. Whether his defense of Hayer strengthens their political standing or contributes to greater skepticism about political influence in media, remains to be seen.
