French Radio Suspends Analyst for Comparing Colonial Actions in Algeria to Nazi Crimes
Aphatie’s comparison of French colonial violence to Nazi crimes sparks controversy and political backlash.
Watan-The French radio station RTL, part of the M6 Group, has temporarily suspended journalist and political analyst Jean-Michel Aphatie following remarks he made on-air on February 25 regarding France’s colonial era in Algeria.
Jean-Michel Aphatie—a well-known media personality in France, who also has a political column on the popular Quotidien show and regularly appears on RTL—stated that France committed “hundreds of massacres similar to Oradour-sur-Glane” (a village where Nazis massacred its inhabitants during WWII) during its colonization of Algeria. His comment sparked widespread controversy and strong backlash, particularly from conservative and far-right politicians.
During the program, Aphatie’s remark outraged guests on set, including Florence Portelli, vice president of the right-wing Les Républicains party in the Paris region. She sharply rebuked him, saying: “What you just did is an insult to the French people!”
French Radio Suspends Analyst Over Controversial Colonial-Nazi Comparison
Beyond the studio, his statement triggered anger on social media, especially among right-wing figures. Éric Ciotti wrote:”I thought Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had expelled all Algerian influencers, but it seems there’s still one left on RTL.”
Far-right politician Jordan Bardella also weighed in:”You need to read more history books to understand the suffering caused by the French people at times. Refusing to do so means denying yourself knowledge of your country’s history.”
RTL’s program host, Thomas Sotto, later announced that Aphatie would not appear on the Wednesday edition of the show, stating:”His absence is due to last Tuesday’s discussion on Algeria, in which he compared certain acts committed during French colonization to Nazi crimes—a comparison that RTL’s management deems inappropriate.”
His colleague Amandine Bégot added:”Jean-Michel Aphatie did not want to apologize or retract his statements—which is his right—but as a result, RTL’s management asked him this morning to step away from the airwaves.”
Aphatie later responded in an interview on France 5’s Arrêt sur Images, saying that RTL had handled the situation with “great understanding and intelligence.” He also confirmed that he would return to the airwaves as usual next Wednesday.
