Judge Opens Criminal Probe Into France Télévisions’ Cannes Hotel Bills

Overview

• An investigating judge has been assigned and a formal inquiry opened into more than €110,000 in luxury hotel expenses during the 2023 Cannes Festival, targeting possible misuse of public assets and corporate abuse.
• The case stems from CFE‑CGC union complaints and references bills linked to senior executives, including France Télévisions president Delphine Ernotte‑Cunci, as well as rooms used by two Brut cofounders.
• France Télévisions says not a single euro of public money was spent and defends using advertising barter to cover stays, a position the union disputes while citing a €350 nightly cap and published invoices.
• As the National Assembly’s commission continues its work on neutrality, funding and governance, Élise Lucet appeared with editors Sophie Le Gall and Gilles Delbos to answer questions about practices at Cash Investigation and Envoyé Spécial.
• Lucet said hidden cameras are a last resort and argued such journalism relies on public‑service independence, declined to confirm a reported €25,000 monthly salary, and rejected claims of doorstep harassment at private homes.