Tensions boiled over in the French National Assembly this week after journalists from the right-leaning magazine Frontières were reportedly assaulted by staffers of the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party. The incident unfolded on April 9, as LFI members rallied against a recent exposé linking their party to Islamist groups, including Hamas.
The report, provocatively titled “LFI: The Party of the Foreigner,” triggered outrage within LFI ranks. When three Frontières reporters showed up to cover the protest, things turned ugly. Upon recognizing the journalists, LFI staffers allegedly confronted them, resorting to physical violence in an attempt to force them out. One of the reporters, a woman, was among those attacked. Footage circulating on social media shows the scuffle, with LFI MP Raphaël Arnault — himself flagged by authorities as a potential national security concern — allegedly involved in the aggression.
Despite clear evidence of violence, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet appeared to point the finger at the journalists. In a statement, she warned that provocations or stunts would not be tolerated and hinted at possible sanctions against Frontières, including revoking their accreditation. Notably absent was any condemnation of the alleged violence by LFI members.
The far-left bloc has since demanded a ban on Frontières journalists entering parliament and called for their publication to be pulled from the Assembly’s kiosk — despite the magazine’s official media accreditation.
On CNews, Frontières editorial director Erik Tégner slammed what he described as a blatant double standard. “When Le Monde criticized far-right MPs, nobody batted an eye. Now that we’ve investigated LFI, censorship kicks in,” he said.
The altercation sparked a fierce backlash on the Right. National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen decried the attack, calling it a shameful moment for French democracy. “Journalists booed, insulted, and physically threatened — right in the halls of our Assembly. How much further are we going to fall?” she asked.
Le Pen also took aim at centrist Gabriel Attal and the Macron-aligned Renaissance party, blaming them for enabling the election of far-left MPs by withdrawing candidates during previous races. “These disgraceful deputies are your legacy,” she fired.
Republican Senator Valérie Boyer voiced her support for Frontières, while RN MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy announced a parliamentary boycott in protest of Braun-Pivet’s response.
As of now, the three assaulted journalists have filed official complaints, and the incident remains under investigation. Whether the Assembly will discipline those responsible — or clamp down on press access — remains to be seen. One thing’s certain: the fight over press freedom and political accountability in France just got a lot more intense.
