On 8 September 2014, the French Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) published a Report on the regulation of audiovisual media during the three election campaigns of the first half of 2014.
The Report proposes an overall reflection on the adequacy of laws and regulations aimed at ensuring the freedom of communication during elections with the freedom of information and pluralistic expression of thought and opinion. The Report highlights the differences between the strict legal framework applying to political communication on broadcasting services as opposed to the rules applicable to the press and Internet. The rules concerning the "silent" or "purdah" pre-election period as well as the implemention in practice of the fairness principle ("principle d'équité") governing the presentation and the access to airwaves of candidates and political parties are two focal points of the report.
In order to feed this reflection, the CSA will engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders and consult experts. The proposals given in the Report will not necessarily apply to the forthcoming elections of the President of the Republic of 2017; the CSA will launch specific consultations for this purpose.