Political speaking time: formal notice served on Radio France

At a meeting on 10 June 2026, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (Arcom) gave Radio France formal notice to comply with its obligations regarding political plurality.

An analysis of the speaking time given to political figures on France Inter and France Info between 1 January and 31 March 2026 shows that the Rassemblement National is broadcast mainly at night, resulting in underrepresentation of the party on the air during the day.

Nearly 60% of the speaking time given to Rassemblement National representatives on France Inter was shown between midnight and 5.59am, while the figure was over 70% on France Info.

Conversely, the party's representatives are not sufficiently represented in programmes shown during the day, between 6am and 11.59pm.

As the Conseil d'État has confirmed, the fact that political figures' speaking time is essentially broadcast at night means that the obligations set out in the Act of 30 September 1986 and in Arcom's decision of 22 November 2017 cannot be abided by.

These observations, which had already led to Radio France being reminded of its obligations in 2025 and 2026, constitute breaches of the rules of political plurality, which the public service must comply with with particular rigour given its duty of exemplarity and impartiality.

Read the formal notice decision.