A LEFT-WING politician branded a “buffoon” on air by one of France’s best known chat show hosts vowed on Monday to file a criminal complaint over the insult.

Cyril Hanouna, the host of the widely watched TPMP show on private channel C8, provoked outrage with his remark during a furious row with left-wing MP Louis Boyard last Thursday.

Mr Hanouna became angry when the 22-year-old politician criticised billionaire media mogul Vincent Bollore, who is Mr Hanouna’s friend, business partner and the owner of C8.

Mr Boyard, who was a student trade unionist and media figure before his election to the National Assembly in June, accused Mr Hanouna of trying to censor criticism of Mr Bollore, who he alleged had “deforested Cameroon.”

“The all-powerful Hanouna, who thinks he can insult and intimidate anyone because they criticise his boss, is unacceptable,” Mr Boyard told reporters on Monday, adding that he planned to file a criminal complaint.

“Whether you’re an MP or not, a presenter should not insult someone live on air for having criticised the owner of his channel,” he added.

Mr Hanouna, of Tunisian origin, is one of France’s most influential and well-paid chat show hosts whose often feisty current affair debates are targeted at young people.

French media regulator Arcom has confirmed that it received complaints over the minutes-long row between the two men, meaning that an investigation is under way.

The speaker of the National Assembly, ruling party MP Yael Braun-Pivet, said on Sunday that the latest incident was “degrading for our public debate and the people in the studio.”

Government spokesman Olivier Veran noted that “whether you like Louis Boyard or not, whether you share his ideas or not, he remains an elected figure.”

Mr Bollore is a conservative billionaire whose news channel CNews has been compared to Fox News in the United States.