Strike at Radio France Disrupts Broadcasts Over Charles Sapin’s Appointment

A two-day strike began on September 13, 2026, at Radio France as employees protest the appointment of Charles Sapin, deputy editor of the magazine Valeurs actuelles, as an editorialist on France Inter. The move has sparked significant internal opposition, with staff unions including CFDT, CGT, FO, SNJ, SUD, and Unsa organizing a rally at the Maison de la Radio in Paris to support the strike. The disruptions to programming were notable from Sunday, with expectations of increased impact on Monday. Regular shows, including Sapin’s political commentary segment which started August 30, were replaced by music or not broadcast at all.

Unions criticize Valeurs actuelles for its association with extreme right-wing ideas and past legal controversies, such as the 2020 court ruling against the magazine for depicting a black LFI elected official as a slave. Over 300 public figures, many from the left, have publicly condemned Sapin’s recruitment as "revolting." Internally, a staff motion on September 2 voiced a categorical rejection of the appointment, deeming the magazine incompatible with public service values.

France Inter's director Céline Pigalle defended the decision on pluralism grounds, emphasizing Sapin’s promise to change the editorial line of Valeurs actuelles and pointing to the presence of other editorialists from a range of media backgrounds. The controversy has escalated into political debate, with figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon labeling the hire a “colonization by fascists,” while Bruno Retailleau criticized alleged sectarianism within Radio France’s editorial teams.

This strike highlights ongoing tensions over media impartiality and editorial freedom in the lead-up to the presidential elections. Radio France apologized to listeners for the broadcast interruptions caused by the strike, which continues to unfold as unions demand the removal of Sapin’s editorial segment from public airwaves.