Arcom warns the CNews channel after a sequence from “L’Heure des Pros” making the link between immigration and bedbugs

A question asked by journalist Pascal Praud, conflating the arrival of migrants in France and the presence of bedbugs, was “likely to encourage discriminatory behavior”, the regulator ruled.

A slap on the wrist. The media regulator, Arcom, called the CNews television channel, owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, to order after a sequence from the show “L’heure des pros” which was “likely to encourage behavior discriminatory”, she indicated in an opinion made public on March 11.

Arcom considered that the said sequence contradicted the CNews convention, according to which the channel must ensure “not to encourage discriminatory behavior because of race, or origin […] or nationality”.

“The wording itself” of the question asked by the host of the show, Pascal Praud, “was likely to encourage discriminatory behavior”decides the regulator, which ensures that it has “warned” chain “against the renewal of such breaches”. She gave him “requested to exercise the greatest vigilance regarding compliance with the aforementioned stipulations.”

Indignant political reactions

At the end of September, the journalist Pascal Praud, who hosts this show, asked a question equating immigration and the presence of bedbugs in France, during a debate on the multiplication of these unwanted insects on his set. “There is a lot of immigration at the moment. Is it people who do not have the same hygienic conditions as those who are on French soil who bring them, because they are on the street, because perhaps they don’t have access to all the services like the others? Is that linked to that?”questioned the journalist in particular.

The projection had aroused a number of political reactions, with Renaissance deputies evoking on “a rancid racism that we hoped would be eradicated”while the deputy France insoumise Aurélien Saintoul spoke for his part “obvious racism”. These political leaders, like Bérengère Couillard, at the time minister responsible for the fight against discrimination, had announced that they would contact Arcom.