Staff members at France’s public radio broadcaster launched a two-day strike on Sunday in protest of the appointment of a commentator whom unions allege promotes far-right ideas in the lead-up to next spring’s presidential election.
Charles Sapin, the deputy editor-in-chief at the far-right weekly publication Valeurs Actuelles, has been hosting a weekly political commentary segment on France Inter, France’s most-listened-to radio station, since late August. Management has justified the hiring as a commitment to pluralism ahead of the April-May vote to succeed President Emmanuel Macron.
Recent polling indicates that far-right leader Marine Le Pen currently holds her strongest prospect yet of winning the presidency. However, employees argue that the editorial stance of Valeurs Actuelles conflicts with the public service mandate of Radio France.
As a result of the industrial action, Sapin’s scheduled weekly column was not aired on Sunday. Other segments of the France Inter morning show were also suspended and replaced with music, though morning broadcasts on franceinfo and France Culture proceeded without interruption.
Valeurs Actuelles, which identifies itself as a conservative outlet, has been involved in multiple legal disputes, including convictions for public racial insults.
In an opinion piece published in Le Parisien on Saturday, approximately 300 prominent figures—including filmmakers, writers, and attorneys—condemned the recruitment of Sapin as “outrageous” and demanded he be removed from his commentary role. The signatories, which included actress Julie Gayet and Nobel Prize-winning author Annie Ernaux, stated that pluralism must remain within the bounds of republican values and should not equate to tolerance for ideas that threaten democracy and fundamental rights.
France Inter director Celine Pigalle defended the decision on air Thursday, describing pluralism as essential for a public broadcaster. “I believe I can trust him not to put France Inter’s airwaves at risk,” she said.
The controversy drew sharp criticism from hard-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon in early September, who labeled Sapin’s appointment a “takeover by fascists.”
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