Decision of 17 June 2026 issuing a formal notice to the company operating an information service

The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication,

Having regard to Law No. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication, in particular Articles 1, 3-1, 13, 16 and 42 thereof;

Having regard to Decision No. 2011-1 of 4 January 2011 on the principle of political plurality in radio and television services during election periods;

Having regard to Notice No. 2025-13 of 3 December 2025 of the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication to radio and television services with a view to the election of municipal and community councillors, Lyon metropolitan councillors, Paris councillors and district councillors of Paris, Lyon and Marseille on 15 and 22 March 2026;

Having regard to Decision No. 2024 of the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication-1153 of 11 December 2024 authorising the Information Service Operating Company to use a radio frequency resource for the terrestrial digital diffusion, in unencrypted and high-definition format, of the national television service known as ‘CNews’;

Having regard to the agreement concluded on 10 December 2024 between the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication and the news service operator, in particular Articles 2-3-1 and 4-2-1 thereof;

Having regard, furthermore, to Decision No. 2025-243 of 30 April 2025, in which the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication summoned the company operating a news service to exercise the utmost vigilance, particularly during election periods and especially in the hours leading up to the end of the election campaign, in accordance with its obligations of honesty and rigour in the presentation and treatment of information;

Having regard to the email requesting comments sent on 9 April 2026 to the television service editor ‘CNews’ and the latter’s reply with effect from 17 April 2026, in which it denied having acted without due restraint or honesty during the disputed footage;

Having regard to the broadcast records of the documentary entitled ‘[Ms X] sets out to conquer Paris’ and the programme ‘100% Politique Week-end’, shown on the television channel ‘CNews’ on 20 March 2026, and the related report, with which the panel has familiarised itself;

Having regard to the following:

On the legal framework:

1. Pursuant to Article 42 of the Act of 30 September 1986, The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication may issue a formal notice to the operator of a news service to comply with the obligations imposed on it by legislative and regulatory texts, and by the principles set out in Articles 1 and 3-1 of that Act.

2. Under the provisions of paragraph I-1 of Article 2 of the decision of 4 January 2011, adopted on the basis of Articles 1, 13 and 16 of the Act of 30 September 1986:“4° Reports, commentaries and presentations arising from the elections must be presented with a constant regard for moderation and honesty.”

Regarding the coverage of news relating to the municipal elections of 15 and 22 March 2026:

3. During the documentary entitled ‘[Ms X] sets out to conquer Paris’, shown at 9.05 pm on 20 March 2026, Ms X, then a candidate for Mayor of Paris, made highly critical, even vitriolic, remarks about one of her rivals, Mr Y. Furthermore, the journalists invited to discuss the campaign and related topics during the documentary all expressed opinions in favour of Ms X and/or critical of the other candidates. For instance, on the subject of security in particular, one of them stated: ‘The city is plagued by certain drug-dealing hotspots, by dealers, by drugs, and also by rampant insecurity in certain neighbourhoods of Paris’; another also argued: “In terms of state authority, she [Ms X] was Minister for Justice; she has always taken a keen interest in issues of security and crime; she was a magistrate […] So on these matters, she has a certain expertise; she can be regarded as having considerable legitimacy.” As for Ms X’s personality, one journalist, for example, remarked that “She has this ability to be at ease with everyone and all kinds of audiences […] She has a spontaneity that isn’t feigned; put three-quarters of politicians in the same circumstances, and you’d get a very different result”; similarly, another said: ‘Even someone who doesn’t come from those social classes might feel they can identify with [Ms X] because she’s someone who has made it to the top and who doesn’t hesitate, from the top, to tell the political establishment and the media exactly what she thinks, and to stand her ground.”

4. During the programme “100% Politique Week-end”, shown on 20 March 2026 at 9.30 pm following the documentary, the on-set discussion gave rise to consistently critical remarks regarding the candidates for the Paris mayoral election other than Ms X. Following these discussions, at 10.00 pm, the presenter announced that Mr Y’s final campaign rally would be shown “ at 10.30 pm ”. The programme then continued with the diffusion of a news bulletin, followed by analysis and discussions led by the presenter on international current affairs, and then a rerun of a speech given on 20 March 2026 by the leader of the National Rally regarding the municipal elections in France. Finally, Mr Y’s speech delivered at his rally on 20 March 2026 was shown at the end of the programme, as of 10.27 pm.

5. It thus follows from the broadcast report that, during the documentary entitled ‘[Ms X] sets out to conquer Paris’ and the programme ‘100% Politique Week-end’, the coverage of the election news gave rise to largely convergent viewpoints, with most of the contributors expressing, on the one hand, positive or even laudatory comments about Ms X and her election campaign and, on the other hand, strong criticism of the other candidates standing in the second round of the Paris mayoral election. Furthermore, these comments were shown at a time likely to attract a large audience, whereas the broadcast of Mr Y’s speech at his rally on 20 March 2026 took place at the end of the programme, at a time of lower viewing figures and following a segment of approximately twenty-seven minutes devoted to other topics.

6. Furthermore, these segments were shown less than three hours before the end of the election campaign, on the Friday preceding the second round of the municipal elections, that is to say under circumstances that made a response impossible or ineffective, even though the proximity to the ‘quiet period’ requires particular vigilance.

7. It follows from the foregoing that, irrespective of the rules governing speaking time in relation to political plurality, the diffusion, on the same evening and just a few hours before the end of the election campaign, of a documentary lasting approximately twenty-five minutes devoted exclusively to a candidate for the mayoralty of Paris anda segment of on-set discussions during which this figure was presented in a particularly favourable light by most of the participants, whilst systematically critical remarks were made againstone of her rivals, whose speech at an election rally was subsequently broadcast under conditions that did not allow for a rebalancing of the broadcaster’s coverage of the election news, constitutes a lack of moderation and honesty in the commentary and presentation of this news. It is therefore necessary to issue a formal notice to the company operating a news service to ensure that, in future, it complies with the aforementioned provisions of Article 2 of the decision of 4 January 2011.

Having deliberated on the matter,

It is hereby decided:

Article 1 – The company operating a news service is, with regard to the ‘CNews’ television service, is hereby formally notified to comply in future with the provisions of point 4 of I.1 of Article 2 of the resolution of 4 January 2011 by presenting, with a constant regard for balance and honesty, the reports, commentaries and programmes relating to the elections.

Art. 2 – This decision shall be notified to the company operating a news service and published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

Done at Paris, on 17 June 2026.

For the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication ( ):

The Chair

Mr AJDARI