New year, new controversy. To mark the start of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, the French flag has been replaced by that of Europe under the Arc de Triomphe. A “symbolic and temporary initiative”, according to the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, which has however aroused criticism from right-wing and far-right candidates in the presidential election. The leader of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, denounced a “provocation” and a “real attack on the identity of our homeland” when Eric Zemmour does not hesitate to speak of an “outrage”. “To preside over Europe yes, to erase the French identity no! “, Launched for its part the candidate of the Republicans, Valérie Pécresse.
The flag, which represents solidarity and union between the peoples of Europe, has since been withdrawn, two days after its installation. “This controversy is quite pathetic all the same,” said Patrick Martin-Genier, specialist in international European issues and teaching at Sciences Po. According to him, these positions aim only to seduce “the electorate of the extreme right which rejects Europe”. “It’s not surprising coming from Marine Le Pen or Eric Zemmour. It is a little more astonishing on behalf of Valérie Pécresse who is of the moderate right ”, and which is consequently“ the heiress of Jacques Chirac ”. However, the former president “had himself contributed to the construction of Europe”.
Europe and France “intrinsically linked”
“We have this unfortunate tendency to always oppose Europe at the national level, that is to say against France, without understanding that the two are intrinsically linked”, nevertheless observes Jérémie Gallon, Managing Director for Europe at McLarty Associates and teacher at Sciences po. “I find this controversy bad because it reinforces the feeling among our fellow citizens that the two are opposed,” he adds. It is absolutely necessary to show them that the two are inseparable, that if today Europe is considered as weak or unable to respond to some of their concerns, it is because at the beginning, the nations do not allow it to be what it should be. “
For Patrick Martin-Genier, “many political leaders, on the right but also on the left, refuse to fully assume the European construction”. For him “The European commitment of the Head of State is not to be doubted whereas for 20 or 30 years, many political leaders do not assume Europe, and think that all that is wrong , it’s because of her. All this for electoral purposes. “Jérémie Gallon adds:” This controversy says a lot about the lack of height of view of the political debate. We are more in political politics than in a debate which reflects on the major issues of the future, which tries to transcend the divisions and to wonder how, in the world of tomorrow, we beat a France and a stronger Europe. “
“A tribute” to the dead soldiers
For these two specialists, installing the European flag, as part of this event, above the tomb of the unknown soldier, made sense. “Historically, this is not at all a negation of our soldiers, of our ancestors, who sacrificed themselves for France. On the contrary, it is rather a tribute because they have allowed us to live in peace, ”insists Jérémie Gallon. Before adding: “This unknown soldier embodies the French who died in this tragic war with our German neighbor. With other peoples, we were able to transcend that and build a political Europe, however fragile it may be. “” The European flag is after all 70 years of peace. While nationalism has always led to war, ”concludes Patrick Martin-Genier.