The report of far-right MP Charles Alonkel sparked a wide political and media debate by proposing radical reforms affecting the structure of the public media sector and its management and governance mechanisms. Among the most controversial recommendations is the call to entrust the appointment of the heads of major public media institutions directly to the President of the Republic, as well as the establishment of a strict legal system to confront conflicts of interest and enhance transparency. These proposals bring to the forefront sensitive questions related to the independence of public media and the limits of the executive authority’s interference in shaping its directions.

Published on: 05/05/2026 - 13:56 Last updated: 05/05/2026 - 15:52

On Tuesday, the most prominent recommendations contained in the report of MP Charles Alonkel, from the far-right Union of the Right for the Republic party, on reforming the French public media sector, were revealed.

The report came after a series of meetings, conducted by a committee composed of deputies in the National Assembly with the most prominent officials and journalists in the French public audiovisual sector.

Among these are the head of the French television (France Television), Delphine Ernot, the head of the public broadcaster (Radio France), Sybille Ville, in addition to Marie-Christine Saragos, the head of the external media network (France Média Monde), which includes France 24, Radio France Internationale, and the Arabic-language Radio Monte Carlo International.

The rapporteur of the parliamentary committee that supervised the report faced criticism regarding his tendencies towards the extreme right, and his influence by the ideas of some investors in the media sector, such as businessman Vanson Bolloré, owner of the C News channel, which leans to the extreme right.

Below are the most prominent points included in the report, which was approved by 12 deputies, and 10 deputies opposed it.

1. Cancellation of many television and radio channels

This is one of the most prominent points included in Alonkel’s report, which confirmed that “the public media includes about a hundred television channels, with a clear excessive rebroadcast of the same programs.”

He proposed, for example, merging the “France 2” and “France 5” channels, and also merging “France Info” with “France 24”, in addition to unifying the “France 3” regional networks and “EC” (France Bleu, which covers what is happening in the French regions). He also suggested canceling France 4, Le Move youth radio, and the Slash platform.

Representative Charles Alonkel considered that reducing game and entertainment programs, which are rebroadcast several times a week, would make way for in-depth investigative investigations, real political discussions, and doubling documentary programs.

According to the report, these changes will ultimately allow the establishment of a major public channel that will be a reference in news and culture, unite the public around it and generate greater advertising revenues.

Read also the public media reform project in France... towards a “French BBC”?

Regarding the “France Info” news channel, the committee considered that it had not succeeded in attracting the public or imposing its privacy, calling for its merger with the international “France 24” channel to form what it called “a leading international Francophone channel that would represent France, consolidate its global presence, and defend its interests on the foreign scene.”

2. Reducing three-quarters of the gaming and entertainment budget on French public television and a third of the sports budget

The Charles Alonkel report also suggests reducing entertainment and sports programmes. He said in this regard: “There are a large number of programs dedicated to games and entertainment on France TV, that is, much more than on private channels.”

He pointed out that "it is not the role of public media to broadcast about 10 games and entertainment programs daily."

In the sports field, it was proposed to limit the coverage and transmission of only three sporting events annually, which are the Six Nations Rugby Championship, the Roland Garros Tennis Competition, in addition to the Tour de France. Charles Alonkel aspires to save approximately 170 million euros as a result of this review of entertainment and sports programs.

He also demanded that private television channels broadcast other sports programs, such as football matches and gymnastics or athletics competitions.

3. Diversifying the ideological backgrounds of journalists and analysts on France Inter radio

The report also called for replacing some analysts working for France Inter (a radio station that focuses largely on internal French political affairs) with new analysts from the private sector, pointing at the same time to the lack of diversity among analysts in public sector media.

He gave an example of journalist Patrick Cohen, who, according to the report, comments on political topics every morning on France Inter radio, and then does the same thing in the evening on France 5.

The report also touched on the possibility of “a possible bias of some analysts working in the public sector towards a particular political party,” without naming it. He stressed the need for the French to realize the source of the discourses presented by analysts in the public media, which, according to its author, should be “a space in which contradictory and multiple ideas and opinions grow, not a media platform that highlights a single political voice.”

Charles Alonkel recommended launching a “participatory media platform” that would allow citizens to suggest topics that could be investigated, politicians and guests who could be hosted in media dialogues on public channels. This platform can also be a tool for reporting any deviations in news processing.

4. Establish a legal and regulatory framework for public service employees’ communication on social media

Like judges or prosecutors, whose public statements of a political nature may expose them to disciplinary sanctions under the duty of discretion, the report by Charles Alonkel suggests that employees working in the public media should not enjoy any effective immunity other than that granted to them by law.

The rapporteur believes that the administrations of “France Television” and “Radio France” must include a gradual internal punishment ladder in their internal systems in the event of breach of the duty of discretion outside the broadcast, while including in the employment contracts a commitment to impartiality and objectivity with respect to employees who are likely to appear on screens and on social networking sites.

Read also: The French public media reform project raises economic and political concerns

Alonkel stressed: "When a person is entrusted with a delicate task as a public service, he must serve the public interest and reduce the manifestation of his personal convictions and ideas compared to those who work in the private sector."

He added that it is necessary to "strengthen the duty of discretion and neutrality, especially among broadcasters, program presenters, producers, and editors-in-chief."

5. The Cannes Film Festival, officials’ cars, and hospitality expenses... a call for an austerity campaign within “France Television”

Charles Alonkel proposed imposing a strict ceiling not exceeding 3 million euros on France Television's annual spending during the Cannes Film Festival, in a move aimed at providing an approximately similar amount as part of a broad plan to stop what is described as extravagant expenditures and rationalize expenses within the institution.

The report calls for a comprehensive review of the privilege of 53 service vehicles that benefit senior officials, especially those who work in cities with advanced public transportation networks, questioning the feasibility of continuing these privileges in light of the availability of alternatives.

It also proposes a more stringent option, which is to completely abolish service cars, and replace them with professional cars that are allocated only to officials whose work nature requires their use, and within a strict professional framework away from any personal use.

Alonkel's recommendations did not stop there, as he demanded that all management expenses based on the exchange of goods or services be subject to direct oversight by the Board of Directors, with prior approval of their details. Rather, he proposed banning them completely when it comes to accommodation expenses or official receptions, in a clear message stating: There is no longer immunity for entertainment expenses within the public media.

“A report in which the accusations outweighed the facts.”

In addition to all of this, the report also called for the appointment of the heads of France Television and Radio France directly by the President of the Republic, as well as the establishment of a legal and regulatory arsenal to combat conflicts of interest.

The head of France Television, Delphine Ernot, criticized the report, saying that it "does not do justice to the daily efforts made by France Television employees," criticizing a process in which "controversy overcame analysis and accusations over facts," amid an atmosphere described as saturated with "personal attacks" and "trials of intent."

She stressed that "the report's author chose the approach of continuous accusation instead of establishing a serious and balanced democratic debate."

Ernot concluded by saying: “What this report proposes is not just an administrative reform, but rather the largest austerity plan witnessed by French culture in its history.”

Taher Hani

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