An internal investigation has been opened at BFMTV, France's leading news channel, due to suspicions against a presenter, some of whose subjects may have been subject to outside influence, AFP learned from concordant sources, confirming information from the
Politico
site .
"
An internal investigation was actually launched more than two weeks ago following information received concerning a journalist
", who is now "
exempted from activity
", the management of BFMTV told AFP, without specifying. the reason for these suspicions.
For its part, the Society of Journalists (SDJ) of BFMTV reported “
suspicions of interference concerning a journalist
”.
“
If the facts reported are correct, they are serious and reprehensible
”, underlines the SDJ.
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According to an internal source at BFMTV, which confirms information from Politico, this journalist is Rachid M'Barki, presenter of the night newspapers.
The investigation is aimed at "
information broadcast in this night newspaper between midnight and 4:30 a.m., which would have been broadcast without being validated by the usual channel, that is to say the editor-in-chief
", has continued this insider source.
A subject at the center of the questions
The investigation must determine “
if this content was under any influence
” and if images broadcast on the air “
came from outside
”.
At the center of the questions is a subject on an economic forum between Morocco and Spain organized in June.
In launching the subject, according to an extract still visible on social networks, Rachid M'Barki indicates that this forum was "
made possible by the warming of diplomatic relations between the two countries since Spain's recognition of the Moroccan Sahara
".
This expression refers to Western Sahara, a region largely controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Polisario Front supported by Algeria.
This issue is a source of tension between Rabat and Algiers.
Asked by
Politico
, Rachid M'Barki admitted to having "
used information which (him) came from informants
" and which "did
not necessarily follow the usual course of writing
".
"
They were all real and verified (...) I'm not ruling anything out, maybe I was tricked, I didn't feel that was the case or that I was taking part in a fraud operation. I don't know what otherwise I wouldn't have done it
”, he continues.
“
We cannot tolerate any suspicion about the work of BFM and its 300 journalists.
We will therefore take all legal, judicial, individual and organizational measures according to the conclusions of this investigation
, ”assured the management of BFMTV.
