France Télévisions disputes the allegations according to which it mandated a private firm to prepare the hearings of its employees before the commission of inquiry.
This Wednesday, June 10, the president of France Télévisions Delphine Ernotte was accused by the rapporteur of the commission of inquiry into the neutrality, operation and financing of public broadcasting of having lied under oath about the use of a consulting firm to prepare the employee hearings. Hearing on April 8, she assured that no company had been contacted, while the rapporteur, UDR deputy Charles Alloncle, affirmed that a firm had indeed been commissioned, relying on the magazine Marianne. France Télévisions firmly denies this.
Accusations and reminder of the criminal risk
On his X account, Charles Alloncle recalls that “the offense of perjury before a parliamentary commission of inquiry is punishable by 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros”. He calls out to the president: “Madame Ernotte, why did you lie? How can the French who pay for France Télévisions still trust you?” The MP cites in particular the Forward Global firm, specializing in supporting companies facing digital, economic and informational risks, and relies on Marianne, who claims to reveal the solicitation of this firm.
Christophe Tardieu, secretary general of the group, assures that France Télévisions “never used” nor “paid any consulting firm” to prepare the hearings of the 55 people heard during these six months of work. He acknowledges the existence of a working lunch with Forward Global but specifies that the firm “simply shared its experience of commissions of inquiry twice at the start of the work”, an approach similar to that of former or current parliamentarians. According to him, the preparation was carried out “in-house”.
France Télévisions also emphasizes that its links with Forward Global predate the commission: the firm has been supporting the public company since 2022 on subjects such as data protection and cybersecurity.
Background of the commission
The commission of inquiry, launched at the request of the UDR – the party of Eric Ciotti, ally of the National Rally and in favor of the privatization of public broadcasting – spent six months of work and interviewed 55 people. In his report published at the beginning of May, its rapporteur Charles Alloncle estimated that public broadcasting was in a “crisis” and no longer met the “expectations of the French”, a document immediately accused of a desire to weaken by its detractors.
