“How can this affair cause so much noise”: Vincent Bolloré persists and signs after the crisis with the publisher Grasset

“How can this matter cause such a stir?” While 170 authors have just announced their departure from Grasset editions, following the dismissal of director Olivier Nora, Vincent Bolloré persists and signs.

In an article published this Sunday in the JDD, of which the ultraconservative billionaire is the owner, as well as the publisher Hachette, which controls Grasset, Vincent Bolloré returns in detail to his vision of this crisis. On its origin, first of all. He confirms that the departure of Olivier Nora is linked to a disagreement between him and the directors of Hachette on the release date of the next book by the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. This book will be on shelves from June 6.

“The manager of Grasset wanted to release it at the end of the year – which was contrary to the wishes of Hachette management, which is the real owner of Grasset. In business as in democracy, the majority ultimately decides,” explains Vincent Bolloré. In the process, it attacks economic performance “very disappointing” de Grasset, with a declining turnover in 2025, and profits halved.

“During this same time, Olivier Nora’s annual remuneration increased from 830,000 euros to 1.017 million euros” he emphasizes. Then he is surprised “extraordinary media noise” caused by “the departure of Olivier Nora who managed Grasset and its 38 employees (out of 33,000 in the Lagardère group…)”

“A small caste that thinks itself above everything”

According to Vincent Bolloré, “this affects a small caste which believes itself to be above everything and everyone and which co-opts and supports itself, and which, thanks to its capacity for media outrage, frightens many”.

The billionaire wants to be reassuring: “Let’s not be afraid! Grasset will continue and those who leave will allow new authors to be published, promoted, recognized and appreciated. […] As for the attacks concerning my “ideology”, I remind you once again: I am a Christian Democrat and the leaders of Hachette will continue to publish all the authors who wish to do so.”

“Claude of conscience” and “editorial diversity”

Another episode of this crisis: the appeal launched in The Sunday Tribune by 300 authors and actors from the publishing world including Leila Slimani, Virginie Despentes and Emmanuel Carrère, demanding the creation of a conscience clause for writers, like the one existing for journalists.

“It must be extended, not to weaken businesses, but to reestablish an elementary balance between the freedom to undertake and the freedom not to serve what we condemn.”

Questioned on Friday at the Paris Book Festival, Emmanuel Macron did not rule out the idea: “I think it’s in any case something that needs to be thought about.”

Furthermore, around a hundred employees of the Hachette group published an article on Sunday in The Worldwhere they worry “for the editorial diversity of our houses, because we see, once again, that the freedom of our publishers is seriously endangered. The situation is alarming and concerns the entire cultural sector and beyond. The concentration of publishing houses and media is a major democratic issue and a real danger. We wish to be at the service of authors and readers and not a political agenda.”