From the comments in this Le Monde article it seems that Sarkozy has actually thought about this, and wasn’t speaking in impromptu fashion.

This suggestion goes against the trend of moving such appointments away from the executive. Reaction is somewhere between hostile and incensed.

The argument in favour of presidential nomination is that too often the current practice of public auditions by the candidates for the post of President ofFrance Télévisions rewards those who are all flash, no substance. Pretty weak argument, I would have thought.