Sonia Mabrouk leaves CNews after opposing the maintenance of Jean-Marc Morandini

She leaves, and he stays. Sonia Mabrouk announced her resignation as director of CNews this Friday. The political interviewer told AFP that she will leave the television channel at the end of her notice period, after 9 years of good and loyal service. The continuation of her collaboration with Europe 1, another media outlet in the Bolloré galaxy where she has worked for 13 years, is still undetermined. According to our information, the journalist has not yet resigned from the station, even if it seems complicated for her to stay there, her morning interview being co-broadcast on CNews.

This resignation from channel 14 marks the shattering conclusion of a fortnight of disagreement with his bosses. Obviously, the decision of the latter – Vincent Bolloré in the lead – to keep Jean-Marc Morandini on the air despite his final sentence, on January 14, to two years in prison and a 20,000 euro fine for corruption of minors.

A choice with which Sonia Mabrouk distanced herself a few days later live on CNews and Europe 1. Questioned on January 20 by the PS deputy, Jérôme Guedj, the 49-year-old journalist affirmed on the air her support for the victims of the CNews host, recalling her attachment to the values ​​of “respect” and “dignity. “There is no need for ambiguity. It is not variable geometry. This is not negotiable. French justice has passed,” she also commented in our columns.

The tension has not subsided since. Last week, Sonia Mabrouk spoke with Vincent Bolloré to try to get him to reverse his decision, in vain. On Wednesday, she also had a conversation with Serge Nedjar, the director of the news channel, which led to her disappearance from the air the same day.

In a press release, sent to AFP this Friday, the journalist explains having noted a “certain and effective alteration of (s) his relationship with part of the management of CNews” since distancing himself from the maintenance of Jean-Marc Morandini.

“My comments, although widely shared particularly internally, led to a situation that I deplore but of which I take note,” she adds. The journalist specifies that she will remain on the air at CNews for the duration of her notice period, which is one month.

An arrival on France Télévisions?

His professional future still remains uncertain. A year and a half before the next presidential election, several rumors are circulating, including that of a possible arrival on France Télévisions, in particular to participate in the new political program that the public group is preparing. Expecting a child, Sonia Mabrouk must go on maternity leave from the end of March.

His departure from CNews and Europe 1 offers a new illustration – the most striking so far – of the internal fractures caused by the Morandini affair. After Sonia Mabrouk spoke on January 20, Pascal Praud then Laurence Ferrari also distanced themselves from their on-air colleague. Behind the scenes, several figures in the group, from Eugénie Bastié to Philippe de Villiers, including Geoffroy Lejeune, also failed to get Vincent Bolloré to relent.

On Sunday, the “JDD”, a weekly of the group led by Geoffroy Lejeune, in turn displayed in its columns its support for the victims of the convicted host. A position with which Philippe de Villiers was associated on X. The slow poison of this affair has undoubtedly not finished acting internally.