“Deputies” on Radio France, behind the scenes of the National Assembly

Sitting on the benches of the National Assembly, 577 deputies represent French citizens; propose, debate and vote the laws of tomorrow. To show the reality of their work and behind the scenes at the Palais-Bourbon, France Inter journalist Anne Soetemondt brought together five of them, from different parties, in a WhatsApp discussion.

Clémentine Autain (La France insoumise), Pierre Cazeneuve (Renaissance), Julien Dive (Les Républicains), Benjamin Lucas (Europe Écologie-Les Verts) and Yael Menache (National Rally) thus sent more than 600 messages between the months of October 2022 and May 2023. In total, the journalist had to sift through and sort through more than ten hours of recordings to come up with this fascinating podcast in five twenty-minute episodes.

Arguments, laughter and silences

Over the course of the parliamentary year, marked in particular by the entry of 88 deputies from the National Rally and the stormy pension reform, they delivered their feelings. The five chosen recount their days, which start at dawn and often end late at night; the weeks spent for some away from their families and the weekends in the riding. All against a backdrop of sometimes inextricable political dissension, but also a few peaceful debates, even frank laughter at the Assembly bar.

Through these voice messages placed end to end, the journalist manages to show the humanity that usually masks the status linked to their mandate, without taking anything away from the eminently political character of each sentence and each silence. Enhanced by the sound production of Fanny Bohuon and Maria Pasquet, the podcast perfectly fulfills its public service mission.

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