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Critics of Bolloré, a Catholic from Brittany whose fortune originates from maritime freight and paper manufacturing, point to a track record of stamping his views on media organisations such as Canal+.
In 2019, he rebranded the innocuous news channel i>Télé into CNews, a network modelled on Fox News that has helped bolster the careers of both Lejeune and Zemmour.
“Media is rather centre-left and Bollore has put forward people and editorial policies in his media that are right, so he’s not popular,” says François Godard, an analyst at Enders.
Yet Bolloré has also angered figures in France’s mainstream right-wing, as well as the incumbent far-right dominated by the National Rally party previously led by Marine Le Pen.
A coalition dubbed “Stop Bolloré” has emerged intent on reining in the billionaire’s grip over French media.
Godard adds: “I don’t think he believes he will make money out of these moves, he does this out of political conviction.”
Yet Bolloré’s tightening control over the French media is not happening in isolation. It comes amid growing disquiet at Les Echos, the daily financial newspaper owned by Bernard Arnault, the world’s second richest man.
Staff at Les Echos this month staged their first strike in 16 years in protest against the ousting of the editor, a weakening of long-standing independence provisions and alleged editorial interference by the owner.
Arnault and Bolloré are not operating from the same playbook. While Bolloré appears driven by politics, Arnault, who owns the LVMH luxury empire, has been accused of using his position to quash any negative coverage of his business interests.
Yet the pair have areas of overlap. Arnault is a shareholder in Lagardère, and the billionaires are reported to have signed a “non-aggression pact” agreeing not to publish negative stories about each other.
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