Plantu, the historical designer of
Le Monde
, confirmed to AFP on Friday his departure from the daily on March 31, stressing that this departure had "
nothing to do
" with that of his colleague Xavier Gorce.
To read also: "We risk making us impose a moral line": the cartoonists in support of Xavier Gorce
Plantu, confirming an announcement he made the night before on the program
Arrêt sur images
, puts an end to a collaboration of nearly 50 years with the newspaper, stressing that his departure "
was planned for a long time
".
"
On March 31, I will be replaced by drawings from Cartooning for peace, the association I created with Kofi Annan 15 years ago
", and, depending on the news, there will be "
an American drawing , Russian, Venezuelan, Algerian,
”he told AFP.
The famous cartoonist underlined that this solution had been adopted by mutual agreement with the director of
Le Monde
, Jérôme Fénoglio, and
Cartooning for peace
: "
We have 52 nations represented in Cartooning for Peace
", which will make it possible to have every day a designer from a different country, with his own approach, he explained.
"
It's been ten years since I asked the director of Le Monde to replace me
," he said, stressing in passing his full support for his colleague Xavier Gorce.
This cartoonist had announced Wednesday that he would no longer work for the newspaper, judging that “
freedom cannot be negotiated
”, after the daily had qualified as “
error
” the publication of one of his drawings on incest, which had shocked Internet users.
Read also: Press cartoons: cartoonist Xavier Gorce slams the door of the
World
“
I support him keenly, I love his style.
We must campaign for the shift (in humor).
Seriousness is in the process of invading us, it is the cholera of the imagination,
”said Plantu, repeating a sentence that the recently deceased comedian Guy Bedos had told him.
Read also:
In the information jungle,
60 drawings to denounce the dangers of the journalist's profession
Ardent activist for freedom of opinion, Jean Plantureux known as “
Plantu
”, who will be 70 years old in March, has sketched every day, since 1985, the news on the front page of the
World
with a mocking and offbeat pencil.
His first drawing, published in 1972, represented a small dove, a question mark in the beak, which will become his trademark, to evoke the Vietnam War.
I want to disappoint everyone so that I can enjoy freedom of tone and mind
Plantu
The cartoonist who entered the BnF in 2018 had mentioned the springs that underlie his work during an exhibition in the prestigious institution: “
A press cartoonist is there to make fun of institutions and I am the guy. who should never be counted on.
I am one of the scoffers and I have no labels.
Every time you think you put one in, you make a fatal mistake.
I want to disappoint everyone so that I can enjoy freedom of tone and spirit.
In order to be able to sift through all powers, all religions, and all institutions
”.
You know a newspaper and its designer is like a wedding.
It's not because we agree with our diary that we agree on everything
Plantu
And did not hide his concern about the evolution of his profession: "
As far as I'm concerned, I enjoy enormous freedom,"
he said then
.
I sometimes bend over certain things, but when I strongly believe something, then I insist.
There has not been an idea that I hold that has not passed.
I thank my editors for that.
You know a newspaper and its designer is like a wedding.
Just because we agree with our diary doesn't mean we agree on everything.
I consider myself privileged.
A little kid in my place today would have a lot more trouble.
Fear is installed everywhere, in the newspapers, in the heads of people ...
"
