Harrowing Robert

Robert Harrowing , born the January 31st 1920 with Vertou (Loire-Atlantique), dead the April 21st 1996 with Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine), was a editor of press, founder of the Groupe Harrowing and a Politician French.

A youth enters Fascism and the left

Before the Second world war, Harrowing Robert militated within the socialist Jeunesses (SFIO) of Rouen, where it in particular met the Anarchist-trade unionist Alexandre Hébert. After the defeat of 1940, it goes up from Rouen to Paris (with foot according to some, with several friends of socialist Youths according to others) to try the political adventure.

It directs then a bunch Nazi, the Jeune face, located in the orbit of the Parti French national-collectivist the former journalist radical socialist Pierre Clémenti. The main activity of the Young face is to distribute a sheet violently anti-semite, With the Pilori , one of the worst newspapers of collaboration. It is also devoted to violences (breaking of windows of Jewish stores on the Fields-Élysées, beside the seat of Young face).

Thereafter, Harrowing Robert will find himself with the camp of Brévannes, created in the spirit of the national Révolution. He finds Jean-Marie Balestre there.

Harrowing Robert was condemned in 1947 to 10 years of national unworthiness for Collaboration with the Nazi Germany, but profited from a general amnesty in 1952. He turns over then on the left, with the Parti radical socialist, then with FGDS. It is at this time, whereas it is notable of left, that it repurchases North-Morning , newspaper SFIO of the fields.

A press baron of right-hand side

In the years 1970, Harrowing Robert will pass on the right and become a liberal and preserving line support with in particular the repurchase of the Figaro. He then becomes the symbol of the large press baron preserving and conqueror. At that time, it is called “Herr Sant” by the Duck connected . In 1984, the left majority tries to make adopt a law restricting the concentration in the press, in order to force Robert Harrowing to sell part of its empire. But this law, largely emptied its substance by the Constitutional council, is repealed after the return of the right-hand side to the capacity, in 1986.

The fiasco of the Five

In 1987, Harrowing Robert becomes the operator of French chain of television " Five " while joining Silvio Berlusconi, magna of Italian television. After having repurchased with TF1 all its organizers high-speed motorboats, the financial fiasco arrives quickly. The public does not follow the stars on the Five and in spite of the American series, the Japanese cartoons and the rights TV of tennis, of Formula 1 and MotoGP, the audience and thus the advertizing revenues sink. Driven back, Harrowing Robert sells his shares with Jean-Luc Lagardere to avoid the bankruptcy of his press group.

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