This Saturday, January 1, France took over the presidency of the European Union – for six months. For this occasion, the French flag was temporarily withdrawn from the vault of the Arc de Triomphe in favor of the only blue and starry banner.
The star-spangled flag of Europe flies Place de l’Etoile, in Paris. Nothing unusual for the famous blue banner that is deployed there year-round. However, this Friday, it is alone – and therefore without the French colors – that she hangs under the Arc de Triomphe a few hours before the inauguration of the French presidency of the European Union. The decoration, which celebrates this reign beginning this Saturday, January 1 for six months and which is a first since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, is not to the taste of the right and the far right. They see it as a symbolic snag on French sovereignty.
Valérie Pécresse fears “the erasure of French identity”
Addressing his wishes to our fellow citizens, Emmanuel Macron wished to wink at the responsibility that awaits him. A few hours before assuming the presidency of the EU on behalf of France, he thus promised, as of this Friday, a “European turning point” for the year 2022, guaranteeing a little later: “Our Europe is the only one. path by which France will be stronger. “
To celebrate the event, the public authorities removed the tricolor flag from the vault of the monument crowning the Champs-Elysées, leaving only the emblem of the 27. And the initiative does not please everyone, in in any case not on the right or on the extreme right.
Valérie Pécresse, who will lead the Republicans to the presidential election, attacked on Twitter: “Presiding over Europe yes, erasing French identity no!” “I solemnly ask Emmanuel Macron to restore our tricolor flag next to that of Europe under the Arc de Triomphe”, she demanded. “We owe it to all our fighters who shed their blood for him,” she concluded.
A “provocation” for Marine Le Pen
It is moreover to the Unknown Soldier, whose flame watches over the forecourt of the Arc, that Marine Le Pen thought when expressing her indignation. “I am outraged that the French flag has been replaced by that of the European Union under the Arc de Triomphe, above the tomb of the unknown soldier”, she threw on Twitter. She even denounced a “provocation offending those who fought for France”. “I ask Emmanuel Macron to restore our national flag,” she continued.
Zemmour remembers Christo
The latter’s rival, Eric Zemmour, borrowed another register. He thus made the link between the loneliness of the European flag in the 8th arrondissement this Friday with the installation of the artist Christo who had covered the walls of the building a few weeks ago. “The Arc de Triomphe under Macron: after the sacking and packaging, the outrage”, he posted on the same social network.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan will “never forgive”
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, also a contender for the spring ballot, went further. “Tonight, the European flag flies under the Arc de Triomphe instead of the French flag! Emmanuel Macron is a profaner who tramples on our national colors! I will never forgive him for that!” he accused.
The government denounces “a ridiculous controversy”
The majority was therefore forced to give a little voice in the evening to make the position of the executive heard. Clément Beaune, first interested as Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs, thus tackled with our antenna:
“The device is in place for a few days, with the illuminations, and the French flag will obviously be reinstalled afterwards, without the European flag. It is a ridiculous controversy and the fact that Pécresse copies – sticks with a few hours of delay the tweet of Le Pen says it all “.
Earlier, on our channel already, the Minister Delegate for Citizenship Marlène Schiappa had defended her leader, while ensuring that the summit of the State was not “Eurobeat”. “It is extremely strong that France is taking over the presidency of the European Union,” she said.
“Emmanuel Macron is the first President of the Republic to put Europe at the center of his political priorities,” she said.
In addition, European colors were also projected on the steel of the Eiffel Tower, but also on other Parisian monuments, such as the Pantheon, the Louvre or the Opéra Garnier.
