Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused by RSF of “undermining the right to information” by deciding on the media in a press convention | EUROtoday

At a press convention “reserved for alternative digital media”to which The World was unable to attend, the chief of La France insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, virulently criticized, Monday February 23, the media therapy reserved for the demise of radical far-right activist Quentin Deranque and the accusations towards his motion that adopted. On Tuesday, the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) estimated that Mr. Mélenchon was sporting “violation of citizens’ right to information” by wanting to decide on the journalists who comply with his press conferences.

“We invite whoever we want”assumed the “rebel”. But based on Thibaut Bruttin, director basic of RSF, “allowing a political leader to choose the journalists authorized to cover an event of general interest is a direct violation of citizens’ right to information”.

In a press launch revealed on Monday, Mr. Mélenchon indicated that he wished “do useful work by inviting a press conference reserved for alternative digital media”. Franceinfo, Agence France-Presse (AFP), the TF1 channel, the every day newspaper Release or the weekly The Express have had their accreditation refused or left unanswered. The request of World remained a lifeless letter.

“Whatever the grievances against this or that media formulated by Mr. Mélenchon, only one compass must prevail: that of journalism – its honesty, its independence, its pluralism”recalled Mr. Bruttin in an announcement despatched to AFP. Thus RSF “calls on all political forces to unreservedly respect the work of journalists and access, for all, to free and pluralistic information”.

“Alternative digital media”

Tuesday through the weekly press briefing of the group of LFI deputies, Louis Boyard declared to the journalists current: “You spend your time excluding the French people from the media. » “We organize spaces that allow us to speak to these new media that embody the people. And at the same time we continue to speak to the media officialdom”launched the member for Val-de-Marne.

Press conferences reserved for “alternative digital media”, “it’s a new format that we will install throughout the presidential election”based on Mr. Boyard. He desires the “new right-wing media” – “except the extreme right” – take part in it, as a result of “it gives credibility”. “We don’t expect people to only ask questions that make them happy”assured the MP.

The “rebellious” had been within the political and media storm the week of February 16 to 22 after the arrest and indictment for “complicity in murder” of Jacques-Elie Favrot, who was, on the time of the demise of Quentin Deranque, parliamentary collaborator of MP Raphaël Arnault (LFI).