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On Friday, November 6, 2026, a group of approximately 30 activists from the organizations Alternatiba and ANV-Cop 21 staged a protest at a Relay store located within the Montparnasse railway station in Paris. The demonstrators emptied newspaper and magazine displays into moving boxes, a symbolic action aimed at denouncing the influence of billionaire Vincent Bolloré within French railway stations.
Protest Against ‘Monopoly’ and Political Influence
The activists, who completed the action in just a few minutes, placed the filled boxes at the entrance of the store, which is owned by the Lagardère group-a company controlled by Vincent Bolloré. The protesters demarcated the area with tape labeled “climate crime scene” and displayed banners accusing the Relay chain of spreading misinformation and criticizing the SNCF for its alleged complicity.
Zoé Pélégry, a spokesperson for Alternatiba, stated that the action was a call for impartiality in public spaces. “We are asking for impartiality and neutrality in public spaces because stations belong to everyone,” Pélégry said. “The SNCF should not give priority to a billionaire who does not hide his regressive political agenda.”
Context of the Controversy
The partnership between SNCF and Lagardère Travel Retail, which operates the Relay shops, has faced increased scrutiny since Vincent Bolloré gained control of the Lagardère group in late 2023. Critics and organizations, including the Observatory of Multinationals, have raised concerns regarding the prominence given to publications associated with the far-right in these retail outlets.
The SNCF, currently presided over by Jean Castex, renewed its contract with Relay in 2023. The activists directly challenged the leadership of the railway company, with Pélégry warning, “What we are telling Jean Castex is that if you do not move Bolloré out of our stations, we will do it ourselves.”
Mixed Reactions
The protest drew varied responses from onlookers and station staff. While some passengers watched with curiosity, others expressed frustration. One customer remarked, “This is not democracy,” while another labeled the action as “complete nonsense.” The store employee on duty expressed anger over the disturbance, noting the significant effort required to restore the shop’s displays.
The demonstration highlights the ongoing tension regarding media ownership and the presence of political discourse in public transport hubs in France.
Source: actu.fr
