Legislative elections 2024: how Arcom's services are mobilized

As soon as the dissolution of the French National Assembly was announced on the evening of June 9, Arcom's Pluralism, Rights and Freedoms department re-mobilized to monitor the legislative elections scheduled for June 30 and July 7. In view of the brevity of the election campaign, it urgently prepared a notice on the editorial coverage of the campaign by radio and television stations, which was adopted by the college on June 10 and came into force on June 11.

The department immediately got back in touch with its correspondents in the broadcasters to ensure, in the continuity of the scheme put in place for the European elections, the proper transmission of speaking time reports according to the accelerated timetable made provision for by the Arcom notice, which is essential to its role as guarantor of political balance during the election period.

On six occasions, the AMF college was able to assess the channels' compliance with the principle of fairness between candidates and the political parties presenting them. Following each of these examinations, the speaking times are published on the Arcom website.

The department also investigates complaints lodged with it concerning the media coverage of the campaign, in particular those relating to the organization of electoral debates. On this point, in its June 25 ruling on the appeal lodged by the Les Républicains party concerning the debate shown by TF1 on the same day, from which they were excluded, the Conseil d'Etat upheld Arcom's position, confirming that these broadcasts and the choice of their speakers fell within the editorial freedom of the channels.

At the same time, in liaison with the Ministry of the Interior's Elections Office, the department devoted itself to the organization of the official audiovisuel campaign, drawing up the decision adopted by the College on June 14 setting out the modalities and, in application of the Electoral Code, allocating speaking time between the political parties involved in the campaign. After drawing lots to determine the order in which they would be broadcast on public service channels on June 20, campaign spots began to be diffused on June 21.

Lastly, a monitoring unit was set up for both rounds of voting during the reserve period, to ensure abide by the rules laid down by law to guarantee the sincerity of the ballot (particularly during election evenings). The monitoring covers compliance with certain requirements such as, for example, the ban on candidates and their supporters speaking on the air, or the prohibition on the media giving any indication of the outcome of the vote or results before the last polling station has shutdown.