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Legrand and Cohen Face MPs in Inquiry Into Public Broadcasters’ Neutrality

The rapporteur has raised the prospect of prosecutions using Article 40.

Overview

  • Thomas Legrand and Patrick Cohen are scheduled to testify Thursday on the covertly recorded video with Socialist officials, with Legrand calling the footage a manipulation and the rapporteur urging them to acknowledge wrongdoing.
  • Sibyle Veil defended Radio France’s pluralism, described the video as instrumentally used, cited a cost of 80 cents per French person per month, and announced a forthcoming online pluralism barometer.
  • Rapporteur Charles Alloncle said the commission should lead to potential prosecutions and indicated he may refer suspected offenses to prosecutors under Article 40.
  • Europe 1 reported a private meeting in which ex–France Inter director Laurence Bloch advised Legrand before his hearing and encouraged him to end his collaboration with the station, while Legrand’s lawyer plans a supplemental complaint over alleged illegal recording.
  • The inquiry’s methods drew a public rebuke from Assembly president Yaël Braun-Pivet, and public broadcasters have sued the JDD, Europe 1 and CNews for denigration in a wider legal battle over the affair.