Tension Rises on France Inter: Rachida Dati vs. Journalists
On Tuesday, Culture Minister Rachida Dati had a tense exchange with France Inter journalists during a live morning show hosted by Nicolas Demorand. Dati was grilled by political journalist Yaël Goosz, but the conversation quickly went off track when she accused her interviewers of not paying attention.
Accusations of Comfort and Distraction
As the discussion progressed, Dati criticized the programs of the New Popular Front and the National Rally, then interrupted herself to claim, “I know you are not listening to me there.” Her assertion was met with a lukewarm defense from the journalists, who insisted they were preparing the next question. “So you are not listening to the answer,” Dati retorted. The atmosphere intensified when Goosz accused her of equating the left and far right, to which Dati responded sharply, “No, you sum it up! Stop Goosz, it's comfort! You are comfort… Go tell that to the technicians of your radio, and to the secretaries, and all the people I greet every day, every time,” she said.
Defending Public Broadcasting and Criticizing Opponents
Dati, whose ministry oversees Radio France, also took the opportunity to defend public broadcasting against the National Rally's call for privatization. She expressed her support for merging public media services—a proposal previously stalled in the National Assembly. “This text was adopted in committee. So if the French trust us, it will come to an end,” she assured.
Rachida Dati didn't stop at criticizing the media landscape; she also targeted prominent figures within the Socialist Party (PS), including former President François Hollande and former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, accusing them of aligning with controversial figures. Her harsh commentary extended to the National Rally, which she labeled a “racist” party that “sorts the French.”
- Dati stopped her criticisms midway to confront Goosz and Demorand for allegedly not listening, remarking that their focus on preparing the next question meant they were ignoring her responses.
- Towards the end of the interview, Dati defended her stance on the proposed merge for public broadcasters, arguing that it would be beneficial if revisited after gaining public trust.
- Dati’s remarks reflect ongoing tensions within French politics, especially concerning how media and political entities interact.
