RTL ends its collaboration with Emmanuelle Praet: the management explains its decision

The management of RTL Belgium decided Tuesday to put an end to its collaboration with Emmanuelle Praet, she announced in a statement on Tuesday. This decision comes after remarks by the columnist during the Sunday broadcast "It's not every day Sunday", considered "outrageous".

On Tuesday, RTL's management spoke with Emmanuelle Praet about what she said during the show. It's not every day Sunday.

During this meeting, RTL's management informed him of the reasons for his decision to terminate the collaboration. It was thus explained to Ms. Praet that the value of her opinions was never questioned, as long as they served the debate. It's not every day Sunday is indeed a program in which topics that reflect the news are approached from different points of view to allow the viewer to form his own opinion. In doing so, in addition to politicians or guests from civil society, the program relies on columnists whose mission is to express sometimes sharp opinions reflecting several currents of politically marked thoughts.

As such, Emmanuelle Praet joined the team as a polemicist in September 2015. Over the last four seasons, Ms. Praet has expressed her opinions every week in relation to current issues and has in so doing, contributed to the success of the only Sunday talk show.

The management of RTL, however, told Emmanuelle Praet that last Sunday, she had left the role that should be hers and had thus departed from one of the fundamental principles of the show: the opinions expressed by the chroniclers must feed the debate ideas, in no way influence public behavior by inviting, for example, to reconsider its support for certain parties.

It's not every day Sunday intends to allow its viewers to form their own opinion, and not impose an election recommendation. This is a basic principle that management intends to continue to uphold. To derogate would be to make columnists the spokespersons of political parties and no longer ideas or opinions. For the management of RTL, in the name of the political independence of the channel, this is a course that can never be crossed.
The malpractice committed last Sunday by Emmanuelle Praet and the many reactions to her suspension convinced the management of the chain that it was impossible for Ms. Praet to continue to meet the criterion of independence, which is essential for the channel. In doing so, RTL has decided to end its collaboration with Mrs Praet.

As committed to its viewers, RTL's management will ensure that the various democratic schools of thought can continue to be duly represented in its debating programs. She will get involved as soon as possible.