The book “La Meute” inquiry, co-written by Charlotte Belaïch and Olivier Pérou, recounts the internal functioning of the movement of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. To justify its refusal, LFI indicated that “the principles which govern freedom of information are accompanied by ethical rules” which have been “flouted”. The director of the daily newspaper, for his part, expressed “his strongest protest”.
La France Insoumise (LFI) refused to accredit the journalist from the world Olivier Pérou, co-author of the book “La Mute” for its summer universities on the internal functioning of the movement, said the newspaper this Thursday, August 21, by denouncing a “obstacle to press freedom”.
“We raise the strongest protest against this obstacle characterized to press freedom and access to information,” writes the director of the daily, Jérôme Fenoglio, in a post online on his site.
LFI summer universities take place from August 21 to 24 in Valence (Drôme). In the world, Olivier Pérou follows the left parties, with Sandrine Cassini.
According to Jérôme Fenoglio, “no training, whatever his political edge, had so far pronounced such an eviction measure” against a journalist from the world “on the occasion of an event of this type”.
LFI evokes “flouted ethical rules”
In a reaction transmitted to AFP by its press service, LFI replied that “the principles which govern freedom of information are accompanied by ethical rules (respect for contradictory, protection of privacy, rigor, multiple sources)”.
“These were largely flouted in the work that Mr. Pérou devoted to rebellious France,” continued the movement, accusing the journalist of having “heavily defamed” and of having “invented false information” on his internal life.
“Contrary to what the management of the world indicates, this does not prevent this journal from being represented for our summer universities. The editorial staff of the world is quite welcome to cover this event,” concluded LFI.
“We will not compromise on our freedom”
“We will not compromise on our freedom to choose our journalists to cover sections or events, which is an integral part of our editorial independence”, insists for his part Jérôme Fenoglio, by greeting “the seriousness and professionalism of Olivier Pérou and Sandrine Cassini”.
Solicited by AFP, the Society of Writers of the World (SRM) judged the decision of LFI “unworthy” and contrary to “press freedom”. “This is a fairly serious precedent,” said journalist Isabelle Mandraud, vice-president of the SRM.
Published in early May, “La Meute” was co -written by Charlotte Belaïch (Liberation) and Olivier Pérou. This survey book describes a fully organized training around the personality of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, where intimidation and threats are common. During the publication, LFI had rejected the claims of the book as a whole.
