After that we want to relaunch the dynamics

Nine months after the announcement of a social plan, the radio international RFI is always in turmoil. Last Monday, the decision of the Court of appeal of Paris was not chastened minds: described as "victory" by the intersyndicale, seeking annulment of the social plan, the case will do that delay, according to RFI. This plan, which includes the abolition of 206 posts and the closure of six languages, gives rise to the longest strike in the public broadcasting since 1968. But its impact on the antenna of the station remains limited.

How do you interpret the judgment of the Court of appeal of Paris concerning the social plan of RFI made September 28

The Committee asked the Justice the nullity of the social plan and the presentation of a new plan, this application was dismissed. Social is not questioned, it is simply suspended. The Court of appeal asked RFI branch amend four points of the social plan, as for example not to make different professional categories between journalists according to the language in which they work. The judge also asks us to expand our research of Arte, Gulli and parliamentary chains recategorization. We'll modify these points as we requested the justice, and then we will consult the Committee. This will probably be as a result of delaying the plan about fifteen days. This means that the first voluntary departures can be held for a month, and then there's forced departure. In the end, the plan should be sealed off in early 2010. I would like to remind that we held 87 meetings with the unions since the beginning of the year. For management accused of not wanting to negotiate, it is already not bad!

A voluntary departures how you expect

I have no idea.

What will be the result of RFI in 2009

RFI will be deficit in the range between 2 and 4 million euros. If the calendar had been held, social plan would have allowed RFI with the balance as soon as this year. It always comes back to the same: this plan is necessary because, in RFI, there is a culture of recurrent deficit that deny unions, at least most of them. Before reinvesting, the shareholder asked to restore the balance in RFI. The contract objective and means of audiovisual outside of the France (AEF, holding company umbrella RFI and which is also chaired by Alain de Pouzilhac, Editor's note) will be signed when the plan for the balance of RFI will be realized.

How do you revive RFI after this traumatic social plan

RFI has lost more than 8 million listeners in four years, from 44 million to $ 35.6 million in the world. We want first to stabilize the fall. This is why we have reorganized the languages and those who were no longer hearing, as German. After that, we want to relaunch the dynamics. In a world that is changing at a dizzying speed, a society which condemns term. Need us a powerful RFI to enable the AEF to be more competitive. RFI must reinvest in the FM relay, develop its priority of languages and to launch new, beginning with swahili, conquer of anglophone and lusophone Africa and invest in new technologies. By 2013, RFI will collect 24 million euros of additional resources for these investments. They will be required. We must compensate for the fall of the classical radio media, recorded by all radios, by developments on the Internet and mobile telephony.

Some employees fear absorption of RFI by France 24, that you also preside. That their answer you

Radio cannot be treated as television. That said, development on the Internet will be with synergies more larger between these two media. For example, all images in France 24 will be available on the website of RFI and all sounds of RFI on France 24. Synergies exist also at the level of the distribution, studies, languages. It is not question of a fusion of teams, including the editorial level, but the sharing of some means.

What are the projects for France 24 for next year

France 24 must become a global chain, i.e. continue to grow in North America, South America and Asia. Broadcasting in Arabic, language launched this year, will grow next year. We will spend 15 hours a day in early 2010 and 24 hours a day in the year.