CNews Under Scrutiny Again as Regulator Investigates Coverage of Sarkozy conviction
Paris, france – French media regulator Arcom is reviewing multiple complaints regarding CNews’ coverage of the September 25th conviction of former President Nicolas Sarkozy in the Libyan financing case. The scrutiny comes amid ongoing concerns about the channel’s adherence to impartiality standards, and follows a previous warning from Arcom regarding its handling of another high-profile conviction earlier this year.
The complaints center on a banner displayed on CNews shortly after the court announced Sarkozy’s five-year prison sentence (with a period of house arrest pending appeal). The banner read: “Nicolas Sarkozy faced with a political trial,” a statement that critics argue presents a biased interpretation of the verdict.
France Insoumise (LFI) MP Aurélien saintoul publicly shared his referral letter to Arcom,accusing CNews of “serious breaches to its obligations of honesty” by echoing what he described as a partisan claim that the justice system was unfair to Sarkozy.He specifically criticized the banner’s “lack of nuance or quotes,” arguing it adopted “the element of partisan language according to which justice was not impartial with Nicolas Sarkozy.”
The Paris Criminal Court found Sarkozy guilty of corruption and influence peddling, concluding he allowed his inner circle to solicit funds from Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign. sarkozy himself has denounced the decision as “of extreme gravity for the state of law” and has appealed the verdict.
Arcom has declined to disclose the exact number of complaints received, but confirmed it is assessing the submissions to determine if further action is warranted. The regulator possesses a range of potential sanctions, from formal warnings to financial penalties, to ensure broadcasters uphold their legal obligations regarding accurate and impartial reporting.
This is not the first time CNews’ coverage has drawn the attention of Arcom.In March, following the conviction of Marine Le Pen in a case involving misuse of parliamentary funds, the regulator “firmly called” CNews to demonstrate “increased vigilance” on compliance with its legal obligations.
The latest investigation underscores the ongoing debate surrounding media impartiality in France and the role of the regulator in ensuring balanced coverage of politically sensitive cases.