Public broadcasting reform: Rachida Dati in the Assembly arena this Monday

The Minister of Culture has consistently supported the National Assembly's consideration of Senator Laurent Lafon's (UDI, centre) bill , which plans to create a holding company, France Médias, which would oversee France Télévisions, Radio France and the INA (National Audiovisual Institute), under the authority of a chairman and CEO.

When the text was passed through the committee in mid-June, France Médias Monde, the international branch of the French public broadcaster (RFI, France 24), was excluded from the holding company's scope, at the government's suggestion. The committee also removed an entire section of the text aimed at "preserving France's audiovisual sovereignty," including provisions concerning sports rights and the development of digital terrestrial radio.

The reform, if successful, would be one of the few trophies the minister could claim as she aims to wrest the Paris mayoralty from the left in March 2026.

The holding company project is being fiercely opposed by public broadcaster unions. Those at Radio France launched an unlimited strike on Thursday , deeming it "extremely dangerous" both for the future of employees and for the independence of information. At France Télévisions and INA, the unions are calling for a strike starting Monday.

"Public broadcasting is a common good whose forces must be united. Today, these forces are dispersed," Ms. Dati said on Sud Radio Thursday, calling for "a coherent and coordinated strategy." Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed his support for the reform on Sunday on RTL.

The debates will begin with the examination of a motion of rejection tabled by the Greens. If it is rejected, the minister will face a veritable parliamentary guerrilla war, led by Socialist MP Emmanuel Grégoire, author of more than 250 of the 935 amendments tabled.

Perhaps a foretaste of the municipal elections? Parisian socialist activists will choose their candidate on Monday, and could choose Mr. Grégoire, unless they prefer Anne Hidalgo's successor, Rémi Féraud.

Faced with this mass of amendments, it seems unlikely that the debates will reach a vote, at least within the timeframe currently scheduled for consideration: Monday and Tuesday. Another text, on extending the maximum length of time spent in detention centres (CRA), is due to begin consideration on Wednesday.

"Despite Rachida Dati's persistence, the government has not provided sufficient time to examine the text in its entirety," rejoices Sophie Taillé-Polian, a member of parliament from the Green and Socialist group.

But Ms Dati remains "determined that (the deputies) can go as far as a vote," assures the rapporteur of the text, Virginie Duby-Muller (LR), suggesting that the examination of the text be extended for the rest of the week - which would suppose that the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau accepts the postponement of the examination of the text on detention centers.

In this parliamentary battle, the government coalition's mobilization is uncertain, with one MP from the Common Core party expressing a certain unease. "I have the impression that we're accelerating towards a crash," said this elected official, who also pointed to Ms. Dati's handling of the issue, which has not contributed to the "calmness of the debates."

In April, an incident pitted the minister against a civil servant from the lower house in committee. More recently, Ms. Dati caused a stir by attacking journalist Patrick Cohen on the set of C à vous, on France 5 , or by stating on France Inter that the public service listeners were a "club" of "CSP +", that is to say, belonging to rather well-off socio-professional categories.