Recommendation no. 2012-05 of May 2, 2012 from the French Superior Audiovisual Council to all radio and television services relating to the June 2012 legislative elections.

French Superior Audiovisual Council,

Having regard to Act no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication;

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

Having regard to decree n° 2012-558 of April 25, 2012 convening the electoral colleges for the election of deputies to the French National Assembly;

After deliberation;

Adopts the following notice:

On January 4, 2011, the French Superior Audiovisual Council adopted a resolution applicable to radio and television services during election periods. The present notice supplements this deliberation for the legislative elections to be held in June 2012.

It applies to all radio and television services, whatever their broadcasting method by any electronic communication process, from May 21, 2012 until the day on which the election is won.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, the present notice applies to :

- from May 13 to radio and television services in French Polynesia;

- from May 20 to radio and television services in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

It does not apply to services which, exclusively accessible via online public communications, are devoted to the election propaganda of candidates or the political parties and groupings which support them.

1. Record of interventions

1° With effect from the dates mentioned above, publishers shall record the speaking time and airtime of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters:

- in newspapers, news bulletins, news magazines and special programs;

- in other programs.

2° The times recorded are cumulative up to and including the Friday preceding the first round of voting, and from June 11, 2012 up to and including the Friday preceding the second round of voting.

2. Transmission and publication of intervention reports

1° Each week, the following publishers electronically transmit to the French Superior Audiovisual Council a breakdown of the speaking times of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters as recorded in their programs:

- TF1 ;

- France 2 ;

- France 3 for its national and regional programs;

- France 4 ;

- France 5 ;

- overseas France 1re (radio and television)

- France Ô ;

- Canal + for its free-to-air programs;

- M6

- BFM TV ;

- i>Télé ;

- LCI ;

- Euronews ;

- France 24 ;

- TV5 for its own programs;

- Direct 8 ;

- NT1 ;

- TMC ;

- Radio France (France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Musique, France Bleu) ;

- RTL ;

- Europe 1 ;

- RMC ;

- BFM Business ;

- Radio Classique ;

- Sud Radio ;

- RFI ;

2° For each period mentioned below, the transmission of speaking time takes place on the following dates:

Times are cumulated over the entire period concerned on each transmission date;

3° Statements transmitted by publishers are posted on the council's website.

3. Obligations concerning other publishers

Other publishers shall provide the Council, at its request, with all information relating to the contributions of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters.

4. Retention and transmission of other information

The publishers referred to in paragraph 2 shall keep audio and video recordings of programmes shown during the period covered by this notice, and shall make them available to the Council at its request.

This notice will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

Paris, May 2, 2012.

For the French Superior Audiovisual Council :
Le président,
M. Boyon

Browse the version published in the Official Journal on May 4, 2012.