Patrick Cohen is set to make a surprising return to France Inter's morning show, joining Nicolas Demorand and Léa Salamé. Starting from the next school year, Cohen will present a daily political editorial just before Sonia Devillers' 7:50 a.m. interview. This move marks a return to basics for Cohen, who previously helmed the station's 7/9 segment between 2010 and 2017.
Cohen's new role at France Inter will not affect his evening appearances on 'C à Vous' on France 5, where he has been a mainstay since 2011. Known for his strong opinions, Cohen's editorials have often sparked significant reactions, such as his critiques against Professor Didier Raoult and the Crépol drama.
Cohen's return to France Inter can be seen as a form of revenge. In May 2023, he left Radio France after being overlooked for the franceinfo morning show, a decision he attributed to a 'perpetuity vendetta' by Laurence Bloch, the group's director of antennas and strategy. Cohen's previous stint at Europe 1 in 2017 was short-lived due to low audience numbers, leading to his replacement by Nikos Aliagas after one season.
The recruitment of Cohen is part of France Inter's strategy to bolster its political coverage ahead of the next presidential election. This follows a season marked by the European elections, an unexpected dissolution, and legislative elections that resulted in no clear majority in the National Assembly. Cohen will replace Yaël Goosz, who remains head of the station's political department.
Cohen's return has not been without drama. His previous attempts to rejoin Radio France were marred by internal conflicts, particularly regarding his potential competition with the France Inter morning teams. Despite good relations with Léa Salamé, Cohen's relationship with Nicolas Demorand and Laurence Bloch has been strained.
France Inter is making slight adjustments to its schedule, with Matthieu Noël replacing Marine Baousson and Marie Misset at 5 p.m. daily. The station recently recorded a slight drop in audience numbers, losing 115,000 listeners in the April-June 2024 period, but still boasts nearly 7 million daily listeners. This strong performance contrasts with rival RTL, which has seen a significant decline in its audience.
