- published: 18 Dec 2013
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Libération (known as Libé) is a French daily newspaper founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Originally a leftist newspaper, it has undergone a number of shifts during the 1980s and 1990s. As of 2007, it has a circulation of about 140,000 and was the first French daily to have a website.
While Libération still has a decidedly self-described left-wing progressive editorial line − generally supportive of causes such as anti-racism, feminism, and workers' rights − Edouard de Rothschild's entrance in its capital (37%) in 2005 and editor Serge July's campaign for the "yes" vote in the referendum establishing a Constitution for Europe the same year alienated it from a number of its left-wing readers. Its editorial stance is currently social liberal.
In May 2007, former Libération journalists created the news website Rue 89.
Libération was founded by Jean-Paul Sartre, Philippe Gavi, Bernard Lallement, Jean-Claude Vernier, Pierre Victor alias Benny Lévy and Serge July and has been published from 3 February 1973, in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Sartre remained editor of Libération until 24 May 1974.