Mediawan shareholders’ hearing canceled as Xavier Niel misses parliamentary inquiry

Thursday 26 February 2026 - 15:15

By: Sahili Aya

Mediawan shareholders’ hearing canceled as Xavier Niel misses parliamentary inquiry

The scheduled hearing of Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, and Jérôme Nommé, major shareholders of Mediawan, before France’s parliamentary commission investigating public broadcasting, was canceled Thursday afternoon due to Niel’s last-minute absence.

Jérémie Patrier-Leitus, president of the inquiry commission, announced that Niel’s office informed them at 1:59 p.m. that he was “unavailable due to an urgent matter, impossible to postpone and beyond his control.” The session had been organized to hear the Mediawan co-founders and key shareholders on matters concerning public audiovisual policy.

Displaying mild frustration, Patrier-Leitus reminded that “anyone whose testimony is deemed necessary by a commission is obliged to appear when summoned, if needed, by a bailiff or law enforcement, at the request of the commission president.” He emphasized that except in extraordinary circumstances, such as the death or hospitalization of a close relative, those summoned cannot avoid attendance.

The president further stated that the commission expects clarification from Niel’s office regarding the “reality and nature of this impediment.” Charles Alloncle, rapporteur of the inquiry, had requested a joint hearing of all three Mediawan shareholders, which cannot proceed without Niel. Consequently, the hearing was officially canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date, with the commission expressing regret for the postponement.