Mathilde Panot, a prominent member of the Insoumis group in France’s National Assembly, recently warned that in the future, no deputies from her group should publish books with the publishing empire of Vincent Bolloré, a conservative billionaire. This statement came after one of her colleagues, Aurélien Taché, a deputy from Val d'Oise, announced plans to publish a book with the publisher Fayard. The book, titled "Le Français, une langue africaine" (French, an African Language), is set to be released on October 14 and is part of the Pensée Libre collection. This collection, directed by Sonia Mabrouk—a former CNews journalist now working for BFMTV—has also published works by other notable figures, including Philippe de Villiers, a sovereignist politician, and Eric Zemmour, a potential candidate for the Reconquête party in the 2027 presidential election. The decision by Taché to publish with Fayard has drawn attention, especially after an article by the independent news outlet Streetpress in late July highlighted the book's content and its potential implications. The article noted that Taché’s work would explore the idea of French as an African language and advocate for a "decolonial Francophonie," a concept that challenges traditional Western-centric views of French culture. This stance appears to be at odds with the broader Insoumis movement’s campaign against Bolloré, who they accuse of creating an ideological monopoly in French media, culture, and education. During a demonstration near the Olympia in May 2023, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the Insoumis group and a potential 2027 presidential candidate, criticized Bolloré for endangering free thought in France. He pledged that if the Insoumis group wins the presidential election in 2027, the entire Bolloré media and publishing empire would be dismantled. When asked about Taché’s decision to publish with Fayard, Mathilde Panot, the head of the deputies, reiterated that it was Taché’s choice, not the group’s. She emphasized the Insoumis group’s support for independent publishers and creators fighting against Bolloré’s influence over creative freedom, and stated that she believed no Insoumis deputy should publish with Bolloré-owned houses in the future. Aurélien Taché, when contacted by AFP, was not immediately available to comment on the controversy. However, in a recent interview with Mediapart, he acknowledged the questions surrounding his decision to publish with Fayard. He explained that he wanted to "wage the cultural battle" and that the book’s themes—such as a decolonial Francophonie and a France "de-occidentalized"—were far removed from the ideological universe of Vincent Bolloré. Taché emphasized that his work was intended to challenge dominant narratives and promote a more inclusive vision of French identity.