Recommendation no. 2013-03 of November 20, 2013 from the French Superior Audiovisual Council to radio and television services in view of the elections of municipal councillors and community councillors on March 23 and 30, 2014.
French Superior Audiovisual Council,
Having regard to the electoral code ;
Having regard to Act no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication;
Having regard to Act n° 2013-403 of May 17, 2013 relating to the election of departmental councillors, municipal councillors and community councillors, and modifying the electoral calendar;
Having regard to Decree no. 2013-857 of September 26, 2013 setting the date for the renewal of municipal and community councils and convening voters;
Having regard to deliberation no. 2011-1 of January 4, 2011 relating to the principle of political plurality in radio and television services during election periods;
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 elections of municipal and community councillors to be held on March 23 and 30, 2014.
It applies to all radio and television services, whatever their broadcasting method by any electronic communication process, from February 10, 2014 until the day on which the election is held.
It does not apply to services that, exclusively accessible via online public communication, are dedicated to the election propaganda of lists of candidates or the political parties and groupings that support them.
1. Treatment of election-related news
When dealing with the Paris, Lyon and Marseille areas mentioned in article L. 261 of the electoral code, radio and television services ensure that candidate lists, personalities or the political parties and groupings that support them benefit from fair presentation and access to the airwaves.
2. Record of speeches
1° Editors record the speaking times of lists 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 from February 10, 2014 up to and including the Friday preceding the first round of voting, then from March 24, 2014 up to and including the Friday preceding the second round of voting.
3. Transmission and publication of intervention reports
1° Each week, the following publishers electronically transmit to the French Superior Audiovisual Council the breakdown of speaking times for lists 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 ;
- France 24 ;
- D8 ;
- RMC Découverte ;
- Numéro 23 ;
- Radio France (France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Musique, France Bleu) ;
- RTL ;
- Europe 1 ;
- RMC ;
- BFM Business ;
- Radio Classique ;
- Sud Radio ;
- local terrestrial broadcasting services.
2° For each period mentioned below, speaking times are transmitted on the following dates:
| PERIOD | PERIOD RECORDED | TRANSMISSION DATES |
| First round of voting | February 10 to 21 | February 22nd |
| February 10 to February 28 | March 1st | |
| February 10 to March 7 | March 8th | |
| February 10 to March 14 | March 15th | |
| February 10 to March 21 | March 22nd | |
| Second round of voting | March 24 to 28 | March 29 |
3° For compliance with I.1 (1°) of Article 2 of Deliberation No. 2011-1 of January 4, 2011 on the principle of political plurality in radio and television services during election periods, the statements transmitted by the providers of radio and television services are posted on the French Superior Audiovisual Council website.
4. Obligations concerning other publishers
Other publishers shall provide the French Superior Audiovisual Council, at its request, with all information relating to the contributions of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters.
5. Retention and transmission of other information
Publishers shall keep audio and video recordings of programmes shown during the period covered by the present notice, and shall forward them to the French Superior Audiovisual Council on request.
This notice applies to French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
The present notice will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
Paris, November 20, 2013.
For the French Superior Audiovisual Council :
Le président,
O. Schrameck