‘Jour J’ for Cantona’s war on the banks

Eric Cantona is hoping the collapse of the banks begins today. The enigmatic former footballer has launched a campaign urging customers to take all the money out of their accounts in the hope of bringing down financial institutions in a “revolution without violence”.And today is D-day – or Jour J – when Cantona wants his supporters to take action that he believes is more effective than demonstrating.He said: "Nowadays what does it mean to be on the streets? What does it mean to demonstrate?" he asked. "You swindle yourself." But the French media are sceptical about the ability of even this "dieu du stade" to provoke a banking Armageddon with this BankRun 2010 protest.  

Le Parisien concedes that the campaign has provoked "un buzz sur internet" but adds that the move is not about to spark a repeat of the 1929 Wall Street Crash – "it’s obviously not very likely".And the Paris-based newspaper concluded, with reference to the recent woes of the financial sector, that any action to break banks is ultimately futile: "The impoverishment of the banks is accompanied by that of their clients."Le Monde sounded a similar note, saying that the bank run could work in theory – but quotes financial analyst Nicolas Bazou, who is extremely doubtful: "It’s not going to work," he says, because millions of people would have to withdraw their money and "they’re not going to do that". ·