Story no.196OngoingPolitics +1NotableParis +229 Oct → 14 Nov101 facts · 310 art.
Petition against CNews: shelved by the Assembly and reactions
A petition calling for the closure of CNews has surpassed one million signatures. The Cultural Affairs Committee of the National Assembly decided to shelve it, prompting mixed reactions: the right welcomed the rejection in the name of freedom of expression, while the petition's author and left-wing lawmakers regretted the lack of debate. Student and high school organizations called for a boycott of the channel, and SOS Racisme denounced its danger. The President of the Assembly was pressed to submit the text to deputies, and op-eds called for a public debate on the continuation of CNews.
In brief
Ongoing story bringing together 101 events nationwide, followed from 29 October 2026 to 14 November 2026. 310 articles from 48 sources (politics, society); last updated on 14 November 2026 at 11:09.
268 articles of rated outlets · 42 unrated outside the bar · 48 sources (310 art.) · the three sides talk about it · outlets: left 11, centre 18, right 10
Angle comparison for the whole story
The left highlights the burial of one million signatures and the absence of debate, while the right welcomes a rejection in the name of freedom of expression and denounces an attempt at censorship; the center focuses more on parliamentary behind-the-scenes and possible follow-ups.
Left
Emphasis on the contempt for signatories and the missed opportunity for debate, with reactions from SOS Racisme, left-wing lawmakers, and student organizations calling for a boycott; vocabulary of stifling and the far-right threat.
Centre
Procedural angle: who voted what, role of the committee and the President of the Assembly, comparison with other petitions, and opening toward a possible law on information; also room for critical reactions such as that of Raymond Domenech.
Right
Presentation of the shelving as a victory for freedom of expression, with reactions from right-wing officials welcoming the rejection and critics denouncing an attempt at censorship coming from the left.
Written by an AI from headlines and extracts only of all events in the story · 14 Nov, 12h46
Confirmed by several sources(5)
- 23
On November 10, 2026, the Cultural Affairs Committee of the National Assembly shelved the petition calling for 'removing CNews from French broadcasting'.
23 independent sourcesrtl.fr, HuffPost France, franceinfo, LCP-Assemblée nationale, Ouest-France +28
- 21
The petition had gathered more than one million signatures before its examination.
21 independent sourcesSud Ouest, Nice-Matin, Politis, rtl.fr, franceinfo +24
- 10
The deputies refused a debate in the hemicycle on the petition and proposed a general debate on media freedom.
10 independent sourcesfranceinfo, LCP-Assemblée nationale, Le Dauphiné libéré, Le Bien Public, Le Progrès +8
- 8
The committee vote was 28 to 25.
8 independent sourcesBFMTV / RMC, Midi Libre, Sud Ouest, La Croix, L'Union +4
- 4
Alexandre Portier, committee chair, stated that 'we are not the Arcom' and that some had confused Parliament with the Arcom.
4 independent sourcesBFMTV / RMC, Nice-Matin, Midi Libre, La Dépêche du Midi, CNews
Sources disagree(3)
Number of signatures
- more than 500,000 signaturesaccording to Ouest-France
- more than one million signaturesaccording to Nice-Matin, Politis, rtl.fr, franceinfo, LCP-Assemblée nationale +19
Vote margin
- 28 votes to 25according to BFMTV / RMC, Midi Libre, Sud Ouest, La Croix, L'Union +4
- by five votesaccording to Le Dauphiné libéré, Le Bien Public, Le Progrès, L'Est Républicain
- by three votesaccording to Ouest-France
Date of vote
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026according to LCP-Assemblée nationale, Ouest-France, Midi Libre, Sud Ouest, Le Monde +6
- Tuesday, October 10according to La Croix
Single source so far(5)
- Catherine Pégard, Minister of Culture, calls not to 'sort journalists'. (according to Le Monde)
- LFI deputy Sarah Legrain placed her hand on the microphone of a CNews journalist at the National Assembly. (according to CNews)
- The petition's author, Lucas Massoni, says he is not 'surprised' and regrets that the text does not lead to a debate. (according to HuffPost France)
- Several right-wing officials, including Bruno Retailleau and Jordan Bardella, welcome the rejection of the petition. (according to Le Journal du Dimanche)
Updates(10)
- 11 Nov, 11h12The petition had 1,066,880 signatures at 4:23 PM on November 10.
- 11 Nov, 01h10The deputies propose a general debate on media freedom.
- 11 Nov, 01h10The petition is closed to signatures after its shelving.
- 11 Nov, 01h10The committee shelved the petition by 28 votes to 25 on November 10; no debate in the hemicycle will take place.
- 9 Nov, 12h06The Cultural Affairs Committee vote is announced for Tuesday, November 10.
- 9 Nov, 12h06The petition surpassed 800,000 signatures on November 5, more than 900,000 on November 6, and one million on November 8.
- 3 Nov, 22h26The Cultural Affairs Committee must vote on the opportunity to organize a debate.
- 3 Nov, 22h26The petition surpassed 750,000 then 760,000 signatures on November 3.
- 3 Nov, 17h28The bureau of the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Assembly meets on November 3 to examine the petition.
- 3 Nov, 17h28The petition surpassed 700,000 signatures on November 3, after 650,000 the previous evening.
AI cross-check of the headlines and extracts of 60 articles (38 outlets) · “confirmed” = reported by at least two independent outlets · 11 Nov, 14h42
Checked on the web(1)
- Not confirmed at this stage
Catherine Pégard, Minister of Culture, calls not to 'sort journalists'.
Sources: petitions.assemblee-nationale.fr(official), lcp.fr, cnews.fr, france24.com, lcp.fr
11 Nov, 11h12
Automatic web search, official sources first · “contradicted” only when an official source is cited
Context and reference points, separate from the story's news. Every item links to its source; updated on 10 Nov
Reference points
- In November 2026, only the petition against the Duplomb law had been debated in the hemicycle among petitions exceeding the 500,000 signature threshold. Wikipédia
Key terms
- Arcom
- French independent public authority tasked with guaranteeing freedom of communication and compliance with legal and regulatory obligations in the audiovisual and digital sectors. It allocates broadcast frequencies to radio and television stations in exchange for compliance with a set of specifications. Wikipédia
- TNT Convention
- TNT is French digital terrestrial television, launched on March 31, 2005 in metropolitan France. Arcom allocates broadcast frequencies to television stations in exchange for compliance with a set of specifications. Wikipédia · Wikipédia
- Cultural Affairs Committee
- The Cultural Affairs and Education Committee is one of the eight standing committees of the French National Assembly, created on July 1, 2009. Its responsibilities include notably communication and artistic and cultural activities. Wikipédia
- Shelving of a petition
- A petition is assigned to a committee, where a rapporteur MP proposes either to examine it or to shelve it. Any shelved petition is closed to signatures and no appeal is possible. Wikipédia
What happens next?
What usually happens in this kind of situation — without prejudging the outcome.
- As a rule, a petition exceeding the 500,000 signature threshold opens the possibility of a debate in public session, without this threshold guaranteeing the automatic organization of a debate, the Conference of Presidents retaining discretionary power to decide whether or not to place the petition on the agenda. Wikipédia
Timeline
newest firstOutlets:LeftCentreRightUncategorised· badge = severity
- 11h09
LatestPétition contre CNews : un avocat dénonce un « moment de censure inquiétant »
Un avocat estime que la pétition réclamant la fermeture de CNews révèle un moment de censure inquiétant, relançant le débat sur la chaîne.
CNewsRight
- 09h40
Eliot Deval estime que les députés ont choisi la liberté d'expression
Dans son édito, Eliot Deval affirme que les députés ont préféré la liberté d'expression plutôt que de débattre de la fermeture d'une chaîne.
CNewsRight
- 09h01
Une chronique dénonce les appels à faire taire certains médias
Dans une chronique, Marin de Viry ironise sur les demandes de censure visant plusieurs titres de presse, dans le prolongement du débat sur CNews.
Valeurs actuellesRight
- 21h45
Pétition contre CNews : un journaliste dénonce un « déni de démocratie »
Le journaliste Mathias Lebœuf a estimé sur CNews que la pétition réclamant la fermeture de la chaîne constituait un « déni de démocratie » en refusant l'opposition.
CNewsRight
- 09h57
Pétition contre CNews classée sans suite : SOS Racisme réagit
L'Assemblée nationale a décidé de classer sans suite la pétition d'un million de signatures contre CNews. Dominique Sopo, président de SOS Racisme, dénonce la dangerosité de la chaîne.
nouvelobs.comhttpsUncategorisedL'ObsCentre-left
In figures
Affected departments
National
Reported toll
Amounts cited630 000 euros · million de signatures · million · un million · plus d'un million
Highest number recorded in 10 article(s), automatically extracted: please check sources.
Further reading
Organisations cited
Places cited
Go up the thread
Events in the story
- Pétition contre CNews : un avocat dénonce un « moment de censure inquiétant »14 Nov
- Eliot Deval estime que les députés ont choisi la liberté d'expression14 Nov
- Une chronique dénonce les appels à faire taire certains médias14 Nov
- Pétition contre CNews : un journaliste dénonce un « déni de démocratie »13 Nov
- Pétition contre CNews classée sans suite : SOS Racisme réagit13 Nov
- Pétition contre CNews : Charlotte d'Ornellas rappelle que la suppression relève de l'Arcom12 Nov
- Franz-Olivier Giesbert dénonce la pétition contre CNews12 Nov
- Que sont devenues les pétitions dépassant 500 000 signatures à l'Assemblée12 Nov
- Tribune réclamant un débat public à l'Assemblée sur le maintien de CNews12 Nov
- Une chronique dénonce la « tentation totalitaire » de la gauche dans les médias12 Nov
Affected departments