The boss of Le Monde is disowned by his staff

On Tuesday, May 22nd, the staff of the French daily 'Le Monde' opposed the renewal of Jean-Marie Colombani's contract as head of the paper and the press group that he created. Domenico Quirico, Paris correspondent for the daily, considers the sanctioning vote. "This was in fact the other presidential election. Because 'Le Monde' is by definition Frances flagship paper, the one that counts, on sale everyday as the counterweight of the other power, [of government]. ... For years, Jean Marie Colombani personified 'Le Monde', with his style, his efficiency, his shortcomings, his contradictions and above all his difficult quest for a new line ... . 'Le Monde' remains influential and revered. In thirteen years the group's turnover went up from 90 to 600 million euros. But that was no doubt not enough. Beyond simple arithmetic is the more complex question: what will Le Monde become under the reign of Sarkozy?"

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