French Media Watchdog Warns CNews Over Zemmour’s Controversial Comments

During this live broadcast on October 23, Eric Zemmour had recalled the massacre of "Muslims and even some Jews" by a Governor General of Algeria appointed by Thiers in 1840.

According to LeMonde.fr, this formal notice, published on Tuesday, December 3, constitutes a form of warning for the news channel of the Canal+ group. In case of repeated offenses, the channel may be subject to a temporary suspension of the program, a withdrawal of the channel’s authorization, fines or deprivation of advertising screens.

In response to this formal notice, the Canal+ group announced in a press release that it would file an appeal for abuse of power with the Council of State. It considers this decision "unjustified" and "contrary to the principles of freedom of expression". For CNews, what the regulator blames the program for is "the expression of the pluralism of currents of thought and opinion".

However, the group has taken some precautions. Indeed, since October 29 and after a recommendation from the Canal+ ethics committee, Eric Zemmour’s program is recorded and is no longer broadcast live in order to avoid any excesses.