After the deputies on July 23, the senators acted overnight from Monday to Tuesday the abolition of the contribution to public broadcasting (CAP). This measure was voted by 196 votes in favor, 147 against, during the examination at first reading of the amending finance bill for 2022.
The fee, which must be paid by taxpayers equipped with a television, amounts to 138 euros in mainland France and 88 euros overseas. It brings in 3.2 billion euros out of the 3.8 billion paid to public broadcasting, of which France Bleu is a part. Its removal was a campaign promise from Emmanuel Macron.
The fee is “an obsolete tool”
The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts Gabriel Attal went to the podium to defend “the abolition of this tax which weighs on the French”. He noted, “after the various interventions of each other that the fact that the contribution to public broadcasting is an obsolete tool is shared very widely on these benches”. With the exception of the Communists, all the groups represented in the Senate defended at least a reform of public broadcasting. “It’s a rotten debate, the audiovisual license fee, everyone, for years, said it was doomed because it was unfair”, declares bluntly the senator Les Républicains Roger Karoutchi, co-author of a report on public broadcasting.
How will public broadcasting be financed?
Nevertheless, senators from all sides criticize the government for eliminating the fee in haste. Senator EELV Daniel Breuiller regrets a “ill-prepared decision. However, in a society of mistrust and fake news, questions of independence and reliability of information are essential”. Socialist David Assouline accuses the government of “create the conditions for the weakening of public broadcasting”. For his part, Laurent Lafon, centrist president of the Culture Committee wonders: “How are we going to finance public broadcasting tomorrow?”
The left has proposed a progressive tax based on income or taxing the online video giants more. These amendments were rejected. “We have chosen to replace it with a state budget allocation”, explained Gabriel Attal. He insists “this will not endanger the independence of public broadcasting”. The text provides that part of the VAT be devoted to the financing of public service television and radio but this is a temporary solution. The law of 28 December 2021 on the modernization of public finance management provides that from 2025, taxes allocated to a public service must have a direct link to the mission financed.
An amendment in the form of an ultimatum for the government
The senators adopted an amendment tabled by general rapporteur of the Finance Committee Jean-François Husson (LR), in the form of an ultimatum: the government has until December 31, 2024 to detail the system that will eventually replace the fee. “You are now depositing two years to carry out a reform of public broadcasting, adapted to new practices while rationalizing public spending by backing it this time with truly adapted funding”, warns Jean-François Husson. The Minister of Public Accounts Gabriel Attal relied on the “wisdom” of the Senate on this point.
However, Senator David Assouline denounces a “lack of visibility” for public service television and radio, which could have consequences for their productions. “And we also know very well that the question of independence, a constitutional principle, is being called into question”. The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts wishes to reassure: “There is and always will be predictability.” Gabriel Attal announces that a budget mission will be created in September and promises that the public audiovisual channels will know their budget for the next five years.
Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak invites parliamentarians to meet in September for a discussion on public broadcasting.