“The reform of public broadcasting must be completed,” says Bayrou

The reform of public broadcasting is not buried. This one “must be completed”declared François Bayrou on Tuesday in the National Assembly during his general policy declaration.

A bill providing for the creation of a holding company, France Médias, made up of four subsidiaries, France Télévisions, Radio France, France Médias Monde as well as the National Audiovisual Institute, should have been examined in December, before the fall of the government of Michel Barnier. The reform was pushed by the Minister of Culture upon her arrival in government a year ago. Rachida Dati even called for a merger of public broadcasting companies but the project was suspended for the first time by the dissolution of the National Assembly in the summer. The idea of ​​a merger is far from being consensual, while the idea of ​​a joint holding company could be better accepted, both in the National Assembly and within the media concerned.

On Tuesday, François Bayrou embarked on another project concerning the media. “Democracy presupposes access to reliable information. The conclusions of the States General of Information launched by the President of the Republic must be translated” in fact, he told the deputies. These general meetings, a broad reflection lasting almost a year carried out by professionals, resulted last September in fifteen proposals, such as large-scale awareness of disinformation, reinforced protection of journalists’ sources, and further strengthening of the independence of the editorial staff. Rachida Dati then indicated that she was preparing a bill resulting from these Estates General, “a solid working base” according to her.