While Jordan Bardella's book is due to be released this Saturday, November 9, the battle continues between Éditions Fayard, publisher of the work, and the Médiatransports group, manager of advertising panels in SNCF and RATP stations. In a press release published this Friday, November 8, Fayard announces that it will seize the Paris Commercial Court to contest the decision of Médiatransports to refuse the promotion of Jordan Bardella's book.
One day before the release of this event book, Fayard editions wish “to compel” Mediatransport to “execute your broadcast contract”. Strong words for an affair that hit the literary headlines last October.
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Censorship of unions
It all started in September. Editions Hachette, owner of Fayard, had reserved hundreds of billboards in French train stations with Médiatransports to promote Jordan Bardella's first book, scheduled for the following month. The SNCF advertising agency then accepted, without knowing the identity of the author, but imposing two constraints, according to information from Europe 1: “pay attention to the catchphrase” and stay “as neutral as possible”.
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But a month later, the newspaper Liberation revealed that the author of the work which was going to be displayed in SNCF and RATP stations was none other than the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella. Immediately, two left-wing unions, SUD-Rail and the CGT Cheminots federation, took action and called on the SNCF to refuse to promote the book.
« The cover of Mr. Bardella's book, support of this communication campaign, does not contain any political position”
Yielding to pressure from these unions, Médiatransports announced that it would not broadcast advertising for the MEP's book. A decision motivated by the fact that the posters allegedly went against the « political neutrality » which the SNCF is supposed to demonstrate. This refusal sparked a wave of indignation, and is at the origin of the anger of Fayards editions.
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Fayard denounces an attack on freedom of expression
Castigating the « submission to pressure from unions »the publishing house Fayard states in its press release that: « The cover of Mr. Bardella's book, support of this communication campaign, does not contain any political position”. Indeed, we must admit that neither the cover representing the face of Jordan Bardella, nor the title « What I'm looking for »does not seem to convey a political message.
« This constitutes a serious attack on freedom of expression.”insists the press release, which then recalls that other political figures have in the past been able to see their works benefit from poster campaigns by Médiatransports, without being censored.
An XXL promotion
While Jordan Bardella's book comes out tomorrow, the poster campaign, if it takes place, should be broadcast between November 25 and December 17. An XXL promotion, more than 500 billboards could carry the cover of the book by the young president of the National Rally.
