media and political amazement at this probable arrival

Will there be a Sunday newspaper on newsstands this weekend? “The drafting of JDD goes on strike against the expected arrival of Geoffroy Lejeune at the head of its management”, announced the journalists, Thursday, June 22 afternoon, after an almost unanimous vote of the employees in favor of a strike of twenty-four hours renewable (77 for, 1 against, 5 do not decide) . A serious decision, at the height of the wind of panic which rose the same morning, when they learned of the information from the World, hitherto remained extremely confidential.

A restricted editorial conference had just ended without any particular announcement. The news of the imminent arrival of the former managing editor of Current values, recently fired from the far-right weekly because of a line deemed too radical – and unprofitable – had the effect of a thunderclap in the editorial staff, where we talk about “stunned” and D’“dread”. But also, more broadly, in the political and media world.

Geoffroy Lejeune, 34, close friend of Marion Maréchal and Eric Zemmour, should succeed Jérôme Béglé in the coming days, at the reins of the JDD since January 2022. The latter could for his part take over from Patrick Mahé, whose contract was supposed to end in October, at the head of Paris Match. Close to Geoffroy Lejeune, Charlotte d’Ornellas, signature of Current values and columnist on CNews, who became the face of the reactionary right and supporters of Eric Zemmour during the 2022 presidential campaign, could also arrive in the wake of the ex-boss of ” GOES ” At JDD.

These choices pose the threat of an unprecedented legalization of the editorial line in the French press over the Sunday weekly. This is because the Franco-Lebanese businessman Iskandar Safa, owner of Current valuesfound the magazine in the hand of Mr. Lejeune too marked on the far right that the latter had been in the hot seat since the fall of 2022. The billionaire, who dreams rather of a magazine speaking to “all rights”, has just appointed as its head Tugdual Denis, the former deputy of Mr. Lejeune.

VA’s “Hateful Attacks”

“Under the direction of Geoffroy Lejeune, Current values spread hateful attacks and false information, revolts the editorial staff of JDD in a press release. It is still under his responsibility that an article was published which earned its author and the director of the publication a conviction for public insult of a racist nature against Daniele Obono [députée La France insoumise dépeinte en esclave en 2020]. We refuse that the JDD take this route. THE JDD is not an opinion journal. It is a newspaper that loves politics without taking sides, attached to its independence, recognized for its seriousness and moderation. »

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