“Liberation”: will billionaire Daniel Kretinsky fly to the rescue of everyday life?


Louise Bernard and Solene Delinger
modified to

11:10 a.m., September 07, 2022

The boss of the Czech Media Invest group Daniel Kretinsky could lend 20 million euros to “Liberation”. The newspaper is in financial difficulty. It should have been in balance in 2023 but this will not be the case before 2026. The fault of the Covid-19 crisis and the increase in the price of paper, which made this objective unattainable.

The boss of the Czech media group Czech Media Invest (CMI) Daniel Kretinsky is preparing to return to the pot of Release. The newspaper should receive 20 million euros, according to information from our colleagues at World. Because the daily is in financial difficulty. It should have been in balance in 2023 but this will not be the case before 2026. The crisis due to Covid-19 as well as the increase in the price of paper contributed to the observation that this objective would not be achieved. Especially since Release will have to start repaying the loan guaranteed by the State (PGE) of nearly 4 million euros contracted at the start of the health crisis linked to Covid-19.

Kretinsky does not become a shareholder of Release

A few weeks ago, Denis Olivennes, co-manager of Release, declared besides to seek 15 million euros. The call has obviously been heard. With these 20 million euros injected, Daniel Kretinsky would not become a shareholder of Release. The newspaper cannot have one, since it has been placed in the endowment fund for an independent press, which protects its editorial independence. The billionaire had only two options: lend or give. He would have chosen the first.

None of the protagonists of the case has so far wished to speak.



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