Against far-right ideas, two bookstores commit to boycotting the Bolloré empire in Nord Pas-de-Calais

In a column published on November 25, 2024, around a hundred bookstores undertake to no longer offer books from editions owned by Vincent Bolloré for sale. In Nord Pas-de-Calais, the bookstores “A la ligne” in Boulogne-sur-Mer, and “Le Bateau Livre” in Lille are mobilized.

“Let's not let Bolloré and his ideas take power over our bookstores!“In a column published Monday November 25, 2024 in Monday Morningwe learn that around a hundred booksellers are mobilizing against the arrival of Vincent Bolloré in the book market.

This forum relays the “Disarm Bolloré” initiative, which saw the light of day between the two rounds of the last early legislative elections. Since then, independent booksellers have joined the movement.

“Vincent Bolloré's empire is as sprawling as it is diverse: industry, agriculture, security, logistics and of course media” describes the platform.

Nearly 100 independent booksellers advertise “not wanting to be complicit in “ cultural battles » of the tycoon by removing the books published by the Hachette group of which he now owns.”

Hachette is a subsidiary of Lagardère. Since November 2023, Vivendi (Vincent Bolloré's group) has acquired a significant portion of its capital. As of December 31, 2023, Vivendi SE held 59.80% of the capital of Lagardère, thus rising to the rank of majority shareholder.

In the Nord and Pas-de-Calais, two bookstores took part in this movement to protest the arrival of Vincent Bolloré in the book market: the “Le Bateau Livre” bookstore in Lille, and “À la ligne” in Boulogne-sur-Mer. The latter agreed to explain her approach to us.

Independent bookstore café in Boulogne-sur-Mer, “À la ligne” has only been open since August 20, 2024. In just a few months of existence, this new Boulogne shop is not shy and is mobilizing , since its opening, against the rise of the extreme right in public debate.

It was therefore without hesitation that Jihane and Luc, managers of the bookstore, made the decision to partially boycott the publications of the Bolloré galaxy. “We said to ourselves that we were going to do something with the releases from Fayard” says Jihane.

Fayard is one of the many publishing houses of the Hachette group. If the forum calls for the disappearance of all the group's books from booksellers' shelves, “À la ligne” cannot afford it financially. “Boycotting the entire Bolloré empire is difficult, because it represents a large part of literary production” explains Jihane.

Boycotting the entire Bolloré empire is difficult, because it represents a large part of literary production.

Hunting

Co-manager of the “À la ligne” bookstore in Boulogne-sur-Mer

Fayard recently published What I'm looking forthe autobiography of Jordan Bardella (RN), but also Memoricide by Philippe de Villiers, founder of Puy du Fou and redundant figure in the media owned by Vincent Bolloré. What she criticizes the publishing house for is a backward vision of society which conveys the arguments of the extreme right.

“Soon, Fayard will publish a post-civil war anticipation book where France Insoumise would have taken control of France, and where the country would be in the hands of wokes and leftists“, continues the co-manager who sees it as a “bad parody“.

If “À la ligne” focuses its action on Fayard publications, others go further. Jihane says: “some bookstores will set up a system of banners on the books concerned, which would indicate “ Bolloré thanks you “. But that could penalize authors who asked for nothing and who are not fascists.“

But such positions attract detractors. The bookstore is leading this fight without shame, even if “we are often told “ the neutrality of bookstores “, even though it never existed“, deplores Jihane. “Our opponents tell us that bookstores are there to sell books and not to play politics. But the choice of books is necessarily“, she emphasizes.

In its shelves, “À la ligne” makes a point of offering stories that offer a “no side“to the readers.”We try to focus on literary diversity and on authors from across the French-speaking world. This step aside, we take it with independent editions.”