Lawyer Alain Jakubowicz Criticizes CNews and Explains His Departure

Prominent French attorney Alain Jakubowicz has publicly addressed his decision to stop appearing on the news channel CNews, citing concerns over the network's editorial direction and the behavior of its commentators. During an appearance on the France 5 program 'C ce soir,' Jakubowicz explained that he had previously viewed his presence on the channel as a necessary counterpoint to the prevailing views expressed by the network's hosts and guests.

Jakubowicz, who had been a regular contributor since the days of the channel's predecessor, I-Télé, noted that his participation was driven by a sense of duty to provide an alternative perspective. However, he admitted that he eventually felt his presence was being used to validate the channel's agenda rather than challenge it. 'I had the feeling of being a bit instrumentalized, or that I was instrumentalizing myself,' he stated, noting that he reached a point where he felt his participation was counterproductive.

The attorney clarified that he was not fired by the network, though he felt he had become 'persona non grata' among the staff. He expressed that the atmosphere on the channel had become increasingly difficult, specifically criticizing what he described as a 'tsunami' of aggressive debate. Jakubowicz noted that while he does not view host Pascal Praud as the most problematic figure on the network, he is deeply concerned by the emergence of what he calls 'clones' of the host, who he believes engage in an 'unbearable' level of escalation.

Despite his sharp criticism of the network's culture, Jakubowicz argued against calls to shut down CNews, suggesting that such a move would be a mistake and would only serve to turn the channel's figures into martyrs. He emphasized that viewers are not obligated to watch the network and suggested that critics should instead focus on engaging in debates to highlight contradictions within the channel's programming.

Following these remarks, Pascal Praud responded directly to the attorney during his own show, 'L'heure des pros.' Praud expressed surprise at the criticism, noting that he has invited Jakubowicz to appear on the program numerous times. 'I have invited him 50 times and, what is more, I like him,' Praud said, questioning the sincerity of the lawyer's recent comments compared to their private conversations.

The exchange has drawn further attention to the ongoing debate surrounding CNews, which is currently the subject of a petition signed by over 500,000 people calling for its closure. While the future of the channel remains a topic of discussion in the French National Assembly, the public disagreement between Jakubowicz and Praud highlights the deep divisions regarding the role and influence of opinion-based news media in the country.