The headquarters of the public broadcasting group was renamed in the name of the journalist, who chaired France 2 and France 3 from 1993 to 1996.
“It would be an understatement to say that Jean-Pierre Elkabbach was a formidable interviewer.” Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the former journalist on Monday October 9 during a ceremony at the France Télévisions headquarters in Paris. The main building of the public audiovisual group was renamed in the name of the man who chaired France 2 and France 3 from 1993 to 1996. Jean-Pierre Elkabbach, who died at the age of 86, was buried Friday in the cemetery of Montparnasse, in Paris, in the presence of numerous political and media figures.
At the head of France Télévisions, “Jean-Pierre Elkabbach dared”, greeted Emmanuel Macron during his speech. “For three years, under his leadership, the public service was, in one way or another, in the news.” But “there The end of this adventure was hasty and his departure from France Télévisions was violent., recognized the head of state. After the revelation of the contracts worth hundreds of millions of francs awarded to the star hosts-producers of France 2, Jean-Pierre Elkabach was in fact cornered until he resigned in 1996.
The president questioned by an employee
The journalist then resumed his political interviews on Europe 1. “A lot [de responsables politiques]I am, accomplished a sort of baptism of fire there.assured Emmanuel Macron. “His interviews became legendary, even entered the liturgy of our Republic”continued the head of state. “Jean-Pierre Elkabbach ultimately succeeds in being of his time and ours. (…) Today, let us remember this energy, this fever, this demand.”
The president was briefly questioned by an employee opposed to the building being renamed. “He squandered millions of public service money”she said. “Freedom of expression, which you have just demonstrated exists in our country, is not incompatible with the spirit of decency”replied Emmanuel Macron.
The Society of Journalists of the national editorial staff of France Télévisions also expressed its disagreement with this initiative, in a press release published Monday October 9 and relayed on the X platform (ex-Twitter).