This Thursday morning,
Apolline de Malherbe
received
Dominique de Villepin
on
BFMTV
to question him about his links with Qatar.
From the start of the interview, the journalist and the former minister were not kind to each other.
Thus, the host of “Face-à-face” asked her guest about her income.
“You are no longer a diplomat, today you are a businessman.
I would like to know how you earn your living
,” Apolline de Malherbe asked with confidence.
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Without giving up, Dominique de Villepin replied:
“Well, listen, in an extremely simple way.
I am an advisor on international matters
.
But quickly, he seemed to want to settle scores with the channel.
“Note, Madame de Malherbe, that I have in front of me someone who belongs to a channel which has made untruthful remarks about me
,” he added.
Also read: Apolline de Malherbe: “The daily life of the French is my only compass”
Forced to apologize
At the end of November, the 24-hour news channel was forced to apologize following a statement by Ronald Guintrange.
The journalist had attributed comments to Dominique de Villepin that were not his own.
“On the occasion of the “120 minutes” program on Sunday November 26, 2023, inaccurate and unfortunate wording was used concerning comments by Dominique de Villepin made during the week.
BFMTV apologizes to its viewers.
Vigilance at all times is the guarantee of trust between the channel and its audience
,” it was written in the press release.
“Who pays you?
»
Apolline de Malherbe to Dominique de Villepin on BFMTV
“These false comments, you apologized to the viewers, you did not apologize to me
,” Dominique de Villepin insisted this Thursday.
“And I could pass the buck back to you.
Who do I have in front of me?
Who owns your channel?
Is she under pressure, are there directives on a political, diplomatic level?
, he then asked Apolline de Malherbe.
“You mean that those who pay us have an influence on what we say?”
, she reacted.
“In general, we can assume so
,” confirmed the former minister.
“So who pays you?”
, retorted the journalist.
The exchange became tense a few minutes later when the journalist was insistent:
“Who are your clients, who are your bosses?
I just need to know that, that’s all
. ”
“I have a company which has activities
,” eluded the former minister.
By definition, when you have consulting activities, you do not give people's names.
I can tell you that I would be totally ready to do it in a confidential framework quite simply because it is not done [...] but there is no foreign power behind it
,” he assured. .
Also read “We will not reconcile you this evening”: tense exchange on France 2 between Dominique de Villepin and Bernard-Henri Lévy on the subject of Ukraine
“What do you charge? What are you selling? What advice are you selling?
, continued Apolline de Malherbe.
“I give geopolitical advice on world developments.
It is an absolutely open statement which contains no element of influence or conflict of interest
,” he said.
The journalist recalled that her guest received 4.2 million euros from a Saudi family between 2008 and 2010.
“I advised this group which is active in the automobile industry
,” he said. recognized.
“Since then your figures have no longer been published.
I would like to know what impact your customers can also have on the things you say.
None ?
So the others are dependent.
You even imply that I would be dependent in the words I say to you.
You imply that I am not free in my comments, in these cases, who are the ones who pay you?
, reiterated the journalist.
“Your only goal today is to gain air time to prevent me from saying the message I have to say”
Dominique de Villepin to Apolline de Malherbe on BFMTV
“Among those who listen to us, no one is fooled. Your only goal today is to gain air time to prevent me from saying the message I have to say
,” replied Dominique de Villepin.
“But how can you say such a thing?
, protested Apolline de Malherbe.
I have always invited you regularly.
There is this article which came out this weekend in the newspaper
Le Monde
which is interested in your affairs and which asks a lot of questions about money and which asks where your money comes from.
I'm asking you the same question as them.
»
“They investigated for two months and found nothing. [...] Today, the activity of my company is completely linked to two French consulting companies, to which I provide advice on the geopolitical level, in France and abroad. For the rest, my activities are voluntary, most of them in the field of art and culture. As you can see, there is nothing to suspect, nothing to imply and I am therefore very happy to give you this information
,” concluded the former Prime Minister to a smiling Apolline de Malherbe.