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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

Anti-Bolloré petition: Human Rights League and CGT sue Canal+

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency In the courts
  • The Human Rights League (LDH) and CGT Spectacle have filed a lawsuit against Canal+ for alleged discrimination against signatories of an anti-Bolloré petition.
  • The organizations accuse Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada of making discriminatory remarks after the petition denounced "the far-right's grip" on cinema through businessman Vincent Bolloré.
  • The lawsuit seeks to prevent Canal+ from excluding or discriminating against the petition's signatories, who now number over 3,800.

France's Human Rights League (LDH) and the CGT Spectacle union have initiated legal action against Canal+, accusing the French media company of discrimination. The lawsuit stems from statements made by Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada, who declared he no longer wished to work with individuals who signed a petition critical of businessman Vincent Bolloré, a major shareholder in Canal+.

Canal+ will appear in court.

— LDH and CGT SpectacleThe organizations announced their legal action against Canal+.

The petition, which denounces "the far-right's grip" on cinema through Bolloré's influence, has garnered significant support. While initially signed by 600 professionals, its signatories have since grown to over 3,800, including international figures like actors Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo, and director Ken Loach.

Saada's remarks, made during the Cannes Film Festival, were described as "brutal" and discriminatory by the LDH and CGT Spectacle. He reportedly stated, "I don't want to work with people who call me a crypto-fascist," expressing frustration with the petition's signatories.

Maxime Saada made the 'brutal choice to discriminate'.

— LDH and CGT SpectacleThe organizations accused the Canal+ CEO of discriminatory actions.

The legal filing, seen by AFP, argues that Saada's public stigmatization of the signatories "is likely to undermine the effective exercise of their freedom of expression, by creating a dissuasive climate conducive to discouraging any critical speech within the audiovisual and cultural sector." The plaintiffs are asking the Nanterre judicial court to order Canal+ to cease any exclusionary measures or discriminatory practices against those who signed the petition.

I don't want to work with people who call me a crypto-fascist.

— Maxime SaadaThe Canal+ CEO explained his reaction to the petition's signatories.

Some signatories have compared the situation to "McCarthyism," highlighting the perceived chilling effect on artistic freedom. The case underscores the ongoing tensions between creative professionals and powerful media figures within France's cultural landscape.

It is high time that the worlds of culture and knowledge unite and revolt against the reactionary work of the Bolloré group. Judicial action is one of the necessary springboards for this revolt.

— Arié AlimiThe lawyer for CGT Spectacle and LDH commented on the legal action as a necessary step.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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