President’s pledge prompts backlash amid fears over French public media independence DUBAI: French President Emmanuel Macron plans to scrap the TV license fee if he wins a second term. The annual €138 ($153) license fee is used to finance television and radio channels, including France Televisions and Radio France, as well as France Medias Monde, which includes channels such as France 24. In a public appearance, Macron told his audience that the move will help to lower taxes. The French leader said that ending the fee, which is paid by about 27 million homes, is part of efforts to assist the growing number of people in the country who are worried about making ends meet. However, his announcement prompted a backlash amid questions about the independence of public media and the issue of state media funding. Socialist senator David Assouline voiced outrage on Twitter, saying the decision would have serious consequences for the independence of public media. Right-wing presidential candidates have already said they plan to scrap the license fee, with Eric Zemmour even accusing Macron of copying him. Although some candidates on the right plan to scrap the fee, they reject any idea of making public media state funded. Marine Le Pen said that she wants to ditch the fee, and privatize public TV and radio. Roch-Olivier Maistre, head of France’s media watchdog Arcom, said no candidate has yet detailed how to fund public service broadcasting without a license fee, The Guardian reported. According to Maistre, there must be a mechanism that allows for “long-term funding and stability,” as well as “visibility and independence.”