“A truly amazing choice”. This is how an in-house presenter described the announcement of the arrival of Laurent Guimier at the co-presentation of “Élysée 2022”, in mid-November. Two weeks later, it's still the same internal amazement. From this Tuesday at 9:05 p.m., the news director of France Télévisions will be Léa Salamé's new partner for this France 2 program. He will replace Thomas Sotto, who has decided to “withdraw” from this meeting -you policy, after the revelation of his relationship with Mayada Boulos, the communications advisor to the Prime Minister, Jean Castex.
It was Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, the president of the public group, who decided this thorny issue.
"That a boss of the news presents the great political program, it is part of the traditions", assures the direction, citing the case of Arlette Chabot in "To you to judge", or Olivier Mazerolle in "100 minutes to convince ".
Except that Thierry Thuillier had put an end to this practice when he was appointed director of information in 2010. "Even at the level of management close to Guimier, this news surprised many", slips a framework.
"Laurent will have the supporting role", specifies France 2.
"It's good, he takes his responsibilities"
After the defection of Thomas Sotto, it was initially planned that Léa Salamé will host “Elysée 2022” on her own. What she didn't really want. The management then approached Laurent Delahousse. “He hesitated before declining, comments his entourage. He's already doing a lot of things. "In the meantime, several in-house journalists have applied for candidacy including, according to our information, the presenter Francis Letellier, the head of the political service Cyril Graziani, the political journalists Guillaume Daret and Jeff Wittenberg, as well as the new columnist of" C to you ”, Mohamed Bouhafsi. “When Marie-Sophie Lacarrau left, Laurent Guimier stressed that the talents were with us, says an employee. So why not apply this speech? "
"There are a lot of competent people in this house," adds a face of the public service. The management knows its strengths very well. While Guimier has never presented such a program. The names of Julian Bugier and Patrick Cohen were also mentioned. Ditto for that of Caroline Roux, in charge of "C dans l'air" and political interviews of "Télématin". "Imagine that she was selected," said a journalist from France Télévisions. We would have looked smart with his Covid (
the presenter of France 5 revealed to be positive for Covid-19, this Monday)
! "Moreover, some approve 100% of the choice of Laurent Guimier:" It's good, he takes his responsibilities, ensures a figure of the group. The political program is the most attacked program. "
On the program this Tuesday evening, the last debate of the Republican primary between Xavier Bertrand, Valérie Pécresse, Éric Ciotti, Michel Barnier and Philippe Juvin.
“There is a real suspense, insists a face of the public service.
That could work.
“In parallel with the last LR debate, the“ Élysée 2022 ”teams are already preparing the follow-up: an issue dedicated to Eric Zemmour, who has just formalized his candidacy for the presidential election.
What to boost the audiences, while that with Valérie Pécresse had gathered only 1.05 million viewers (5.1% of PDA).
The format should also be changed.