Story no.196OngoingPolitics +1NotableParis +229 Oct → 13 Nov98 facts · 307 art.
Petition against CNews: dismissed by the Assembly and reactions
The petition calling for the closure of CNews, which has surpassed one million signatures, was dismissed without further action by the National Assembly's Cultural Affairs Committee. This dismissal sparked mixed reactions: several right-wing figures, including Bruno Retailleau and Jordan Bardella, welcomed it in the name of freedom of expression, while Lucas Massoni, the author of the petition, regretted the lack of debate. The Student Union (Union Étudiante) and the High School Students' Union (Union Syndicale Lycéenne) called for a boycott of the channel, and SOS Racisme denounced its danger. On the sidelines of the debates, LFI MP Sarah Legrain placed her hand on the microphone of a CNews journalist at the Assembly, a gesture condemned by the channel. Meanwhile, the President of the Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, was urged to submit the petition to MPs.
In brief
Ongoing story bringing together 98 events nationwide, followed from 29 October 2026 to 13 November 2026. 307 articles from 48 sources (politics, society); last updated on 13 November 2026 at 21:45.
265 articles of rated outlets · 42 unrated outside the bar · 48 sources (307 art.) · the three sides talk about it · outlets: left 11, centre 18, right 10
Angle comparison for the whole story
All three political sides agree that the Cultural Affairs Committee dismissed the petition with over one million signatures, but they diverge on the interpretation: the left denounces a denial of democratic debate, the center questions the fate of petitions and the impact of future legislation, and the right welcomes the decision as a protection of freedom of expression.
Left
Highlights the burying of one million signatures, the absence of debate, and the responsibility of Macronist, right-wing, and far-right MPs; cites SOS Racisme, student and high school unions calling for a boycott, and the petition author regretting the lack of debate.
Centre
Covers the voting process (who voted what, role of LR MP Alexandre Portier), the fate of high-signature petitions, mixed reactions including that of Raymond Domenech, and opens up to a possible law on information; editorials diverge between unjust rejection and good news for democracy.
Right
Welcomes the dismissal in the name of freedom of expression, cites Bruno Retailleau and Jordan Bardella, denounces a "totalitarian temptation" or "intellectual terrorism" from the left, and revisits the incident of Sarah Legrain touching the microphone as well as the role of Arcom.
Written by an AI from headlines and extracts only of all events in the story · 13 Nov, 22h11
Confirmed by several sources(5)
- 23
On November 10, 2026, the National Assembly's Cultural Affairs Committee dismissed without further action the petition asking to "remove CNews from French audiovisual media."
23 independent sourcesrtl.fr, HuffPost France, franceinfo, LCP-Assemblée nationale, Ouest-France +28
- 21
The petition had collected more than one million signatures before its examination.
21 independent sourcesSud Ouest, Nice-Matin, Politis, rtl.fr, franceinfo +24
- 10
MPs 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 votes against 25.
8 independent sourcesBFMTV / RMC, Midi Libre, Sud Ouest, La Croix, L'Union +4
- 4
Alexandre Portier, president of the committee, stated that "we are not Arcom" and that some have confused Parliament with 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 against 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 the 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, called for not "sorting journalists." (according to Le Monde)
- LFI MP Sarah Legrain placed her hand on the microphone of a CNews journalist at the National Assembly. (according to CNews)
- Lucas Massoni, the author of the petition, said he was not "surprised" and deplored that the text did not lead to a debate. (according to HuffPost France)
- Several right-wing figures, including Bruno Retailleau and Jordan Bardella, welcomed 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, 01h10MPs propose a general debate on media freedom.
- 11 Nov, 01h10The petition is closed to signatures after its dismissal.
- 11 Nov, 01h10The committee dismissed the petition without further action by 28 votes against 25 on November 10; no debate will take place in the hemicycle.
- 9 Nov, 12h06The Cultural Affairs Committee's vote was 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 National Assembly's Cultural Affairs Committee met 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, called for not "sorting 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 responsible for guaranteeing freedom of communication and compliance with legal and regulatory obligations in the audiovisual and digital sectors. It grants broadcasting frequencies to radio and television stations in exchange for compliance with a specification sheet. Wikipédia
- TNT Convention
- TNT is French terrestrial digital television, launched on March 31, 2005, in metropolitan France. Arcom grants broadcasting frequencies to television stations in exchange for compliance with a specification sheet. Wikipédia · Wikipédia
- Committee for Cultural Affairs
- The Committee for Cultural and Educational Affairs is one of the eight permanent committees of the French National Assembly, created on July 1, 2009. Its competencies include communication and artistic and cultural activities. Wikipédia
- Dismissal of a petition
- A petition is assigned to a committee, where an MP-rapporteur proposes either to examine it or to dismiss it without further action. Any dismissed 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.
- Generally, a petition exceeding the threshold of 500,000 signatures opens the possibility of a public session debate, without this threshold guaranteeing automatic organization of a debate; the Conference of Presidents retains discretionary power to include or not include the petition on the agenda. Wikipédia
Timeline
newest firstOutlets:LeftCentreRightUncategorised· badge = severity
- 21h45
LatestPétition 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
- 20h46
Pétition contre CNews : Charlotte d'Ornellas rappelle que la suppression relève de l'Arcom
Sur CNews, la journaliste Charlotte d'Ornellas a estimé que la suppression d'une chaîne revient à l'Arcom et non à l'Assemblée nationale, dans le débat sur la pétition réclamant la fermeture de la chaîne.
CNewsRight
- 12h13
Tribune réclamant un débat public à l'Assemblée sur le maintien de CNews
Une tribune estime que la conférence des présidents de l'Assemblée devrait organiser un débat dans l'Hémicycle sur le maintien de la chaîne CNews, malgré les sanctions de l'Arcom.
Le MondeCentre-left
- 11h31
Une chronique dénonce la « tentation totalitaire » de la gauche dans les médias
Une tribune d'opinion publiée ce jeudi dénonce, en référence à Jean-François Revel, une « tentation totalitaire » de la gauche dans l'univers des médias, dans le contexte des offensives contre CNews et d'autres chaînes.
AtlanticoCentre-right
- 11h06
Pétition contre CNews : Braun-Pivet pressée de la soumettre aux députés
La commission des affaires culturelles a ignoré le million de signataires demandant la suppression de CNews. La présidente de l'Assemblée pourrait user de son pouvoir pour soumettre la pétition aux députés.
LibérationLeft
- 07h00
De LFI aux militants écologistes, la gauche à l'assaut de médias et de la liberté d'expression
Une trentaine de militants d'Alternatiba et d'ANV-COP21 ainsi que des élus de gauche multiplient les actions et critiques visant CNews, Relay ou encore Sonia Mabrouk.
Valeurs actuellesRight
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 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
- Pétition contre CNews : Braun-Pivet pressée de la soumettre aux députés12 Nov
- De LFI aux militants écologistes, la gauche à l'assaut de médias et de la liberté d'expression12 Nov
- CNews : les députés classent la pétition réclamant la suppression de la chaîne11 Nov
Affected departments