A microphone was circulating through the room that morning, for various attendees to make remarks in connection with the anniversary. Uncharacteristically there was a veritable phalanx of "bodyguards" surrounding the microphone, and certain inviduals in attendance were noticeably prevented from speaking.
One host who did get access to the microphone accused de Lesquen of having staged a "putch" at the station, or "coup d'etat" or similar strong accusations. (Reichman does not recall the exact expression)
The following Tuesday (Nov 14) Reichman took to the airwaves for that week's radio broadcast, and devoted the first 17 minutes to a description of recent administrative changes at the station, and particularly the galling censorship of that sunday's breakfast gathering.
Result: Reichman is fired from his job, and forbidden to participate in any further broadcast from the station.
Wednesday November 15, these fateful 17 minutes are placed on Youtube, here.
Franslated from the description:
After the death of Jean Ferré, the directorship of the radio station was taken over by Henri de Lesquen. And in a more than doubtful manner. Here is the clip from the November 15 episode of Claude Reichman’s free journal, where he exposes the maneuvers and the conspiracies. This clip was censored in the evening’s rebroadcast.Translation of the comments left there:
All that is happening over at [Radio Courtoisie], is not surprising. Today Reichman was fired by Lesquen.
It’s the confirmation of the charges from this broadcast.
Ferre’s corpse is still warm, and certain individuals set out to monopolize the station to their puny personal profit.
All this will end as it always does. Soon nothing will remain of this station. Lesquen, Mégret: same fight, same method, same destiny.
[This is a reference to conservative politician Bruno Mégret. From wikipedia:
In 1985 he joined Jean-Marie Le Pen's Front National (political party). In 1986 he was elected to the French National Assembly. In 1987 he organised Le Pen's election campaign and became the number two in the movement.
However, the relationship between Le Pen and Mégret turned sour during the following decade. Mégret and others inside the Front started criticizing Le Pen's "extremist" positions, which, they argued, prevented the Front from obtaining political executive positions.
In 1998, Bruno Mégret split from the Front National and founded the Mouvement National Républicain.]
This next comment frustrates me, as it reflects much of what I feel needs to change about France. People need to get involved, to take action and participate in shaping their future, and here comes counsel to do precisely the opposite:
Calm down, friends, we love this station, it is a piece of eternal France, listening to it makes us better. If the station has survived, it’s because each show host devoted all their talent to it. No matter the temptation and our particular sympathies, let us abstain from taking part [in the struggle] because we do not have all the facts. Let’s cross our fingers, let grace do what it will and may Jean Ferré inspire them all.
Two of the other six comments from youtube, one of whom making reference to some skeletons, I suppose, from Reichman's background. I'm not familiar with these events, so I let them stand without further context:
Yes, it’s puny to try sinking a radio station in combat between small groups: Reichman is wont [to engage in] this kind of inside struggle. Let us remember the PPL and the CNI, the rupture with the 4 Vérités newspaper, etc.
What credibility does he have?
Yes it’s petty to wish to sink the station, Lesquen must be calmed down, he’s a very intelligent guy but brusque.
Over at the Revolution Bleue blog, there are even more acrimonious divisions forming between the members. I hope to translate some of these comments shortly.
[For a good overview of Reichman's "blue revolution" movement, I recommend this excellent summary, courtesy of fellow francophile Tiberge over at Galliawatch.]
No comments:
Post a Comment