Why the departure of Sophie de Closets is talking about Sarkozy

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Nicolas Sarkozy, February 25, 2022 at the Élysée.

EDITION – A departure and questions. Hachette Livre announced on Thursday March 24 that the publisher Sophie de Closets was leaving the head of Fayardone of the large houses of the group, the French leader in the sector, owned by Lagardère and of which Editis (Vivendi) intends to take control.

According to a press release fromHatchet, Sophie de Closets, “wishing to embark on a new phase of her career” has decided to leave the presidency of Fayard editions. Quoted in the press release, the editor thanked the employees of the group and the authors of the house “whose trust obliges us”, without expanding on the reasons for her departure.

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Why the departure of the boss of Fayard is so talking about Sarkozy

Sophie de Closets had joined the group in 2004 and had been running Fayard editions since 2014. Among her successes, she had recovered the rights for France to books signed by the former President of the United States Barack Obama and the former First Lady Michelle Obama.

“How dare you, Madame de Closette?”

But his announced departure as a volunteer calls out, as it comes just after the publication of a newspaper investigation The world this Tuesday, March 22. According to the daily, the former head of state Nicolas Sarkozywho joined the board of directors of Lagardère in 2021, put pressure and even “passed a blower” to the now ex-boss of Fayard, last spring.

The reason? The choice of Sophie de Closets to publish at Fayard the books of journalists from the World Gerard Davet and Fabrice Lhomme, Hate. The Sarko years and 2019 et Apocalypse. The Fillon years in 2020, displeased the former president. According to The worldNicolas Sarkozy goes so far as to see “a conspiracy” in this editorial choice, especially since Sophie de Closets remunerated Jérôme Lavrilleux, former chief of staff of Jean-François Copé and key figure in the Bygmalion affair, who “largely contributed” to the books in question.

Hachette announces the departure of Sophie de Closets from Fayard. Yesterday, we told how Nicolas Sarkozy, friend of Lagardère and Vincent Bolloré, claimed to “take care” of the fate of the publisher after the publication of books that displeased him. ⬇️ https://t.co/JliFkYPyNO

— Raphaelle Bacque (@RaphaelleBacque) March 24, 2022

“How dare you, Mrs. de Closette?, was exasperated on the phone Nicolas Sarkozy, voluntarily scratching his name, according to the story of our colleagues Raphaëlle Bacqué and Ariane Chemin. Do you know that Arnaud Lagardère is your boss?” The leader of the Lagardère group is close to the former President of the Republic. “For Fayard, I take care of it”, also affirmed the ex-head of State addressing Olivier Nora, CEO of Grasset editions which are also part of the Lagardère group, still according to The world.

The French publishing community has been in turmoil for several months, due to the proposed merger between Hachette and Editis, controlled by the Bolloré family, which has raised concerns among many players about the maintenance of competition in the sector.

See also on the HuffPost: Despite the condemnations, these faithful Sarkozy always at the rendezvous