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PAIR SAID AWARDS WERE UNEXPECTED AND UNMERITED – SO THEY WILL NOT COLLECT THEM. TWO journalists listed for New Year honours have turned them down, saying the distinction was unexpected and

unmerited. The head of the political service at the radio station France-Info, Marie-Eve Malouines, and the head of the France-Europe section at Le Monde, Françoise Fressoz, were both

offered the rank of chevalier de la légion d’honneur. However the women said they were astonished to see their names among the notables being offered honours. “Contrary to the usual

procedure I was not told anything about it before the list was published,” said Ms Fressoz, while Ms Malouines said: “I have never sought such an honour or even been approached about such a

possibility.” Ms Malouines said the first she knew about it was when a colleague congratulated her. “I was amazed and thought he was joking,” she said. She added she had always thought the

authorities let someone know they were being considered for the légion d’honneur. “It seems that is not the case.” She added: “To me, the légion d’honneur is for people who have done

something exemplary and exceptional and nothing in my career justifies it. It is out of the question for me to accept. The problem is I am now in the official list. However, you have a year

to go and collect it, so I just I won’t go.” The two women were recommended for the honour by the Association de la Presse Parlementaire. Photo:AFP Jacques Demarthon