FranceOwnership & classification
Founded: 1826
Ownership
Le Figaro is published by Société du Figaro, the core of Groupe Figaro, which is controlled by the Dassault family's Dassault Group (Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault). The late industrialist and conservative senator Serge Dassault took control of publisher Socpresse from the Hersant family between 2004 and 2006, and the Dassault family holding still owns the paper (roughly 80% via Groupe Figaro). The Dassault Group's primary business is aerospace/defence (Dassault Aviation).
Funding
Financed commercially through advertising, newsstand sales and a growing digital subscription/paywall business, plus diversified revenue from Groupe Figaro's classifieds and lifestyle properties. It also benefits from France's general press-aid subsidies available to all national dailies.
Affiliation & stance
Editorially conservative and centre-right, long the reference paper of the French right, but it is privately and commercially owned by an industrial family with no party or state control over its newsroom. That private ownership and commercial funding make it INDEPENDENT, despite a clear right-leaning editorial line.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Conservative
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 783
81/100
Factual
73/100
Objective
1052
Articles
1052
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
AI: the debt rush of the tech giants is driving up interest rates
The article discusses how major technology companies are increasingly relying on bond markets due to massive investments in chips, servers, and data centers. This trend is raising concerns among investors, who are becoming more anxious about the financial risks associated with these large-scale technological projects. The situation highlights growing pressure on tech giants to secure funding through debt instruments, which could potentially drive up interest rates.
France - Belgium: Dembélé next to his pumps, Olise, Cherki and Doué in the size of a boss... The notes of the Blues
In a football match between France and Belgium at the Stade de France, France initially trailed but eventually won 4-1 after substitutions including Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, and Rayan Cherki, who all scored goals. The victory marked Zinedine Zidane’s first win as coach at the stadium, following a previous draw against Italy. Despite the win, Ousmane Dembélé was criticized for a poor performance. Goalkeeper Guillaume Restes had little to do but was unable to stop Belgium’s opening goal. Defender Jules Koundé received a moderate rating for his defensive efforts, while Maxence Lacroix faced criticism for allowing Belgium’s first goal.
Blockade of secondary schools: the key role of the USL, the union sponsored by LFI
The article discusses the growing student protests in French high schools and highlights the role of USL, a youth union supported by La France Insoumise (LFI). The protests began at the Saint-Exupéry High School in Créteil in early September and have since spread across the country. LFI deputies Clémence Guetté and Louis Boyard were among the first to support the movement, leading critics to accuse them of orchestrating the unrest. The relationship between LFI and USL goes beyond demonstrations, with several USL leaders having worked closely with LFI politicians in recent years. Notable examples include Gwenn Thomas-Alves, who became a parliamentary assistant to Louis Boyard, and Ivan Dementhon, who previously worked with LFI deputy Marie Mesmeur. Additionally, some USL members ran on lists led by LFI candidates during local elections. While there is ideological alignment between the students' demands and LFI’s platform, USL representatives deny that LFI is controlling the protests.
Eduard Geffray is paying the price for Macron's five-year plan
The article discusses Édouard Geffray, the current French Minister of Education, who has been in office since 2017. It highlights his role as a technocrat who is less accustomed to political crises. The piece frames his position within the broader context of ongoing educational reforms, including teacher replacements, changes to the baccalaureate system, and the Parcoursup admissions process. The headline suggests that Geffray is facing the consequences of the previous five-year terms under President Macron, implying that the challenges he now deals with stem from earlier policies.
Quebec votes as separatist surge poses test for Canada PM
The provided text appears to be a partial or incomplete article from France 24, focusing on a potential referendum in Quebec where a surge in separatist sentiment could pose challenges for Canada's Prime Minister. The article mentions a video segment related to the topic but does not provide substantial content beyond that. No complete information about the voting process, results, or specific policies under discussion is available.
LIFETIME - Blockade of high schools: tens of thousands of high school students in the streets for an "Act III" under high surveillance
Thousands of high school students across France participated in a third major protest, known as 'Acte III,' which began in mid-September in the Paris region and later spread to other cities including Lyon and Marseille. The protests were supported by an inter-union group within the Ministry of Education, which encouraged students to take to the streets in these cities. The demonstrations occurred under heavy police supervision, indicating the significant security presence during the event.
48 48 hours of hell 48: traumatized high school students released from police custody
The article reports on the traumatic experience of several high school students who were detained during a protest and spent 48 hours in police custody. The students reportedly emerged from interrogation with psychological distress, raising concerns about the treatment they received while in custody. The piece highlights the emotional impact on young people involved in demonstrations and questions the conditions under which they were held.
Labour: absenteeism in private and public sector still at record level
A new exclusive report by WTW reveals that private sector workers in France are absent from work nearly 5% of the time on average, according to an unprecedented barometer. Public sector employees also experience high rates of absenteeism. This presents a significant challenge for the French government, which must address these issues amid ongoing concerns about workforce productivity and efficiency.
Primary from the left: Ségolène the Vengeful
The article reports on a heated exchange during a televised debate on BFMTV, where former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal accused her rival, Emmanuel Macron, of being sexist. The accusation came shortly after Macron was criticized for allegedly making a 'dance of the belly' gesture towards her, which Royal interpreted as inappropriate. The incident highlights tensions within French politics, particularly around gender dynamics and political rivalry.
European Parliament: Francois-Xavier Bellamy accuses Rima Hassan of having 'overturned' the EU and Israeli flags displayed in tribute to the victims of 7 October
An article reports that French conservative euro-deputy François-Xavier Bellamy accused Rima Hassan, a member of the Left Front (LFI), of overturning the flags of the European Union and Israel during a commemorative display for the victims of the October 7 attacks. Bellamy claims this act constitutes 'complicity' with those seeking to reintroduce antisemitism, which he describes as having caused some of the darkest hours in European history. The incident occurred in the corridors of the European Parliament, where the Israeli flag was displayed alongside the EU flag. Bellamy presented photographic evidence shared on social media, supported by eyewitness accounts and video surveillance footage. He called for immediate sanctions against Hassan, whom he labels as having committed a scandalous act. This incident adds to the ongoing conflict between Bellamy and Hassan, who has been accused of ambiguity regarding Hamas activities and the Israeli military response to Gaza. Their rivalry intensified after the July 2024 European elections, when Bellamy opposed her candidacy for a leadership position within the European Parliament.
The Stade de France that overturns, Olise phenomenal and the surprise Aimé Jacquet, France-Belgium in pictures
The article discusses France's 1-1 draw against Italy in the third round of the Nations League, marking a setback for coach Zinedine Zidane's team during their return to the Stade de France. It highlights the shock among French players following the alleged corruption investigation involving security chief Mohamed Sanhadji, referred to as 'Momo.' The piece also explores Zidane and goalkeeping coach Patrick Barthez's ambitions for a more attacking style of play, emphasizing their vision for the goalkeeper position.
British writer Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86
British author Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86, according to his publisher HarperCollins. He passed away 'suddenly and peacefully at home, between two writing sessions.' Archer was known for his bestselling novels, which sold over 300 million copies worldwide. His latest book, 'Adam and Eve,' was set to be released soon and he had planned to attend the Cheltenham Literary Festival to discuss it. Archer faced personal and legal challenges throughout his life, including a conviction for perjury and witness tampering in 1987 after a friend provided him with a false alibi during a defamation trial against the Daily Star newspaper. Despite these setbacks, he remained active in politics and continued to write, drawing inspiration from his experiences in high finance and politics.
France-Belgium: Aimé Jacquet, the surprise return to the Stade de France
Aimé Jacquet, the former head coach of the French national team who led them to their first World Cup victory in 1998, made a surprise appearance at the Stade de France to watch the debut of his former player, Baptiste Fernandez, now coaching the team. The visit was kept secret by the French Football Federation, adding to the element of surprise. Jacquet, now 84 years old, sat in the presidential tribune alongside current federation president Philippe Diallo and was joined by several notable figures, including Jean-Michel Aulas and former players like Laurent Blanc, Robert Pires, and Christian Karembeu, who came to support the team during their match against Belgium.