It was freezing cold on Monday, December 9, on the Place de la Bourse in Paris. But that did not discourage around a hundred people from coming together for the first action of the Disarm Bolloré campaign, launched in July by 150 ecological, feminist, anti-racist organizations and unions.
The participants had prepared a very long list of Vincent Bolloré's misdeeds, denouncing the group's financial and media omnipotence and its role in the extreme right-wing of French society. It was he who notably enabled the media rise of Eric Zemmour during the 2022 presidential campaign.
Vivendi's stock market maneuver
They organized a citizen counter-general assembly in response to the real general assembly of Vivendi, the flagship of the empire, specializing in media and communication, which took place a few hundred meters away, in the meeting room. Folies Bergère show. Vincent Bolloré brought together the shareholders to split the company into three different entities: Canal+ (which also includes the C8 and CNews channels), the Havas communications group and the Hachette publishing house.
The action was part of the Désarmons Bolloré campaign, launched by 150 ecological, feminist, anti-racist organizations and unions.
© NnoMan Cadoret / Reporterre
An operation which aims « to strengthen control of the Bolloré group, in defiance of all stock market regulations »as Mediapart explains. « The objective is to circumvent stock market regulations and make more moneyassures an activist on the Place de la Bourse. However, we need this money for public services and for independent journalists. »
« Lots of naivety about what Bolloré does »
The disastrous consequences of Bolloré's control over the media have been mentioned on several occasions. « In twelve years, Arcom [Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique, et son prédécesseur le Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel] had to take fifty-two sanctions against the C8 and CNews channels, including sixteen during the year 2024 alone for incitement to hatred, discriminatory remarks, sexism, humiliation, false news and non-respect of pluralism »denounces Youlie Yamamoto, the spokesperson for the Attac association.
The demonstrators denounced the consequences of Vincent Bolloré's control over his media.
© NnoMan Cadoret / Reporterre
« There is still a lot of naivety in France about what Bolloré does »assures journalist Jean-Baptiste Rivoire, who spent fifteen years at Canal+ before leaving in 2016 to found the site Off investigation, with which Reporterre collaborates. He points out the disinformation campaign led against Reporters Without Borders by the Progressive Media agency, a communications company in which Vincent Bolloré is a shareholder. And also recalls the silence clauses imposed on journalists leaving the media bought by the billionaire, by which they undertake not to reveal confidential information about their former employer. A real omerta organized to protect the group.
« Bolloré is a great architect of the convergence of brutes »
Wearing the white coat of the Scientists in Rebellion, Jack Berat came to the microphone to warn about the proliferation of climate-skeptical speeches on the billionaire's channels. « Letting Bolloré have the newspapers and TV shows is letting lies winhe rages. It's letting hatred win. It gives space to a racist, colonial, sexist, masculinist discourse. Bolloré is a great architect of the convergence of brutes ».
Despite the seriousness of the speeches, the atmosphere was joyful, punctuated by creative slogans, songs from the Invisible Fanfare and choreography by the Rosies. No police officer was present at Place de la Bourse during the entire action.
The event was hosted by musicians from the Invisible Fanfare.
© NnoMan Cadoret / Reporterre
From 2 p.m., the demonstrators decided to join the Vivendi general assembly, to bring Vincent Bolloré a list of symbolic demands, such as the requisition of Vivendi premises to create popular canteens. The small crowd then started moving towards the Folies Bergère, singing slogans and songs.
Protesters held for two hours
But the procession was very quickly stopped a few dozen meters further on, in the middle of the main boulevards. The demonstrators were suppressed for two hours. Those who accepted an identity check were able to leave, the others were exfiltrated and taken to the police station for an identity check and probably a fine for participating in a prohibited demonstration.
The end of the procession was marked by a trap and arrests.
© NnoMan Cadoret / Reporterre
« New proof that even without a government, the government is rushing to send its police to defend Bolloré's little arrangements to finance his xenophobic project »estimate Earth Uprisings on Bluesky.
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