Radio France unions protest Charles Sapin appointment

Radio France is facing internal backlash following the appointment of Charles Sapin as a political editorialist for France Inter. Sapin, who was recently named deputy editor-in-chief at the magazine Valeurs actuelles, is scheduled to provide political commentary on Sundays.

Two major unions, the SNJ-CGT and the Syndicat national des journalistes (SNJ), have expressed strong opposition to the decision. The SNJ-CGT described the move as an “unacceptable red line,” stating that the management of France Inter has caused them shame. The SNJ noted that the decision has caused “stupefaction across all Radio France newsrooms,” arguing that the appointment sends a poor signal given that Valeurs actuelles has recently participated in campaigns criticizing the public broadcaster.

France Inter management defended the choice as part of a broader effort to ensure pluralism and “organize the conversation between all opinions.” The station emphasized that providing a variety of perspectives is a public service mission, particularly as the country approaches presidential elections. Sapin will join a rotating panel of editorialists that includes contributors from L'Express, Alternatives économiques, Nouvel Obs, and the Financial Times.