on 8 January 2008, at one of his few press conferences, Nicolas Sarkozy announced the total abolition of advertising on public television. The surprise was general, including for the Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, about this project suggested by the President’s unofficial advisor, Alain Minc (whose financing seems uncertain from the outset). At the official request of the Elysée, a committee was set up. It offers its President Jean-François COPÉ a lot of media visibility. In disagreement, the left-wing elected representatives resigned. On 5 January 2009, France Télévisions ordered by letter from Christine Albanel to implement the reform in advance. The law was passed by the Parliament on 8 March of the same year. Requested by Communist Senators, the Conseil d’État (Council of State), one year later, annuls the Minister’s letter and France Télévisions’ decision on the ground that the government cannot compel anyone to apply the law in advance. Its decision did not, however, lead to the return of the advertising, since the law had been enacted in the meantime. (First paragraph)