French lawmakers rejected a pétition calling for CNews to be removed from French audiovisual programming, with 28 votes against 25. The pétition, which garnered over a million signatures, was classified by the National Assembly's Culture and Education Committee, leaving the possibility of a debate in the Chamber open for a limited time.
The pétition, launched on the National Assembly's platform in June, gained momentum after the racist attack in Trappes on October 23. It accuses CNews, owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, of promoting far-right ideologies and spreading racist content. The debate in the committee was marked by intense disagreement, with some lawmakers calling for a broader discussion on media regulation and press freedom.
The National Assembly's Culture and Education Committee has the option to request a debate within eight days if the pétition is not to be discussed in the Chamber. The pétition's classification does not prevent a potential debate, but the outcome remains uncertain as the committee awaits further developments and the possibility of a future discussion on the issue.