Rennes (AFP)
The director general of Paris-Normandy Frédérick Cassegrain was ousted from the newspaper, because of a disagreement with the commitment for the municipal in Rouen the owner of the daily, Jean-Louis Louvel, was learned Thursday from the 'interested.
"I do not agree that he makes politics by owning the newspaper.It is very old world," said AFP Mr. Cassegrain.
Mr. Louvel, who acquired Paris-Normandie two and a half years ago while Mr. Cassegrain was already in office, received the support of La Republique En Marche (LREM) for the municipal elections next March in Rouen. Mayor is Yvon Robert (PS).
Continue to own a newspaper and do politics, "it's his choice but I do not think it's possible.In 2019, the mix of genres does not pass," said Mr. Cassegrain who assured in the past the direction of several media.
"We are waiting since September for information on a potential investor who could enter the capital of Paris-Normandy.This announcement (the departure of Cassegrain) surprises us and worries us," said AFP Anne Boucher SNJ union, stating that the editors had no explanation for this departure.
Contacted by AFP, Mr. Louvel did not respond.
Mr. Louvel had announced a fortnight ago that he was looking for "a benevolent shareholder" to take back some of its shares in order to "not harm" the image of the newspaper as it prepares to lead countryside.
He had expressed the wish to partially withdraw from the shareholding of Snic (Société Normande d'Information et Communication) whose main title is Paris-Normandie.
A buyer of companies in difficulty, Jean-Louis Louvel holds since 2017, 90% of the shares of Paris-Normandie via his holding company Fininco Médias.
© 2019 AFP