an LFI deputy reports to the courts a “lie” from the leaders of the Canal+ group

After an incident on CNews where abortion was described as “the leading cause of death in the world”, the channel’s editorial director assured that he was carrying out “investigations to find out if it [y] had an error”. LFI deputy Aurélien Saintoul assures that he was unable to collect the elements proving the holding of an investigation.

LFI deputy Aurélien Saintoul announced Tuesday May 14 that he was going to report to the courts a “lie” of the leaders of the Canal+ group during the commission of inquiry into TV frequencies, after an incident on CNews where abortion was described as “leading cause of death in the world”. The channel, in the hands of conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, apologized after the broadcast twice in February of this controversial infographic on the Sunday religious talk show “In Search of the Spirit”.

As part of a hearing on February 29 by the parliamentary commission of inquiry into TNT, of which Aurélien Saintoul is the rapporteur, the editorial director of CNews, Serge Nedjar, assured under oath: “We are currently investigating whether [y] had an error or a little more. We have several leads.” The LFI deputy subsequently asked that “all elements of the announced investigation be communicated to him”. “In the absence of a satisfactory response”he did “an inspection on documents and on site within the Canal+ group”he explained in his commission of inquiry report.

“Today, I do not have the material elements which would allow me to establish that there was indeed an internal investigation”declared the elected official from Hauts-de-Seine to the press. “It is an offense to lie under oath.”, he underlined, indicating to take legal action. In addition, the rebellious MP reproduces in his report an alert message from an internal lawyer addressed to the managers of the channel and the group ahead of the broadcasts, warning about the“obligation to honestly process information” in this sequence on abortion.

After the on-air incident, the audiovisual regulator, Arcom, contacted an independent rapporteur with a view to possible sanctioning CNews, the second continuous news channel. Aurélien Saintoul intends to make a second report concerning the Canal+ group, which “involves a victim”, he said without further details. Tighten channel controls at all stages, strengthen the audiovisual policeman: the commission of inquiry into the allocation of DTT frequencies delivered its recommendations on Tuesday, in full play with those of C8 and CNews.