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PARIS: First, President Nicolas Sarkozy's party accused Agence France-Presse of "censorship" for not publishing one of its press releases. Ten days later, the government suggested that the news agency create a service dedicated to publishing press releases. Press freedom has long been an uneasy subject in France, a country where many newspapers rely on government subsidies and where defense contractors control large swaths of the print and broadcast media. But the latest episode in a simmering standoff between Sarkozy and French journalists has led to an unusually drawn-out and public confrontation. "It's rather amusing, even for France," that the government accuses the media of censorship, Pierre Louette, chief executive of AFP, said in an interview by telephone Monday.
PARIS: First, President Nicolas Sarkozy's party accused Agence France-Presse of "censorship" for not publishing one of its press releases. Ten days later, the government suggested that the news agency create a service dedicated to publishing press releases.
Press freedom has long been an uneasy subject in France, a country where many newspapers rely on government subsidies and where defense contractors control large swaths of the print and broadcast media.
But the latest episode in a simmering standoff between Sarkozy and French journalists has led to an unusually drawn-out and public confrontation.
"It's rather amusing, even for France," that the government accuses the media of censorship, Pierre Louette, chief executive of AFP, said in an interview by telephone Monday.
The UMP, a political party, wants to trump up a piece against Royale that was already well hashed out the month before...but they thought it would be nice to rehash it on Mother's Day.
So, it wends its way up the chain to the point where the former minister of communications and now President makes it a matter of State...suggesting that the press create a bulletin board for party propaganda.
The article goes on to describe the cozy relationship that the president has with the leading press and industrial titans, then closes with:
Still, he has some loyal allies: In this week's edition of Paris Match, Sarkozy is on the front page with his wife, Carla. The first lady was allowed to pick the photographs and write the captions for the article, according to a journalist at the magazine, who declined to be identified. In one of those captions, she described herself as the president's "ray of sunlight."
The first lady was allowed to pick the photographs and write the captions for the article, according to a journalist at the magazine, who declined to be identified. In one of those captions, she described herself as the president's "ray of sunlight."
I hope there is an innocent explanation for this, or are we being lead up a path to when the president takes up quarters in Versailles? Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
To have the President of the Republic be stupid enough to openly and outright claim censorship on part of media because they won't print his press release is just too surreal for words. Sarkozy has truly lost his mind.
