Replaced by the European flag, the French standard will be “obviously reinstalled” at the Arc de Triomphe

The controversy is gone like a cork of champagne. Several far-right personalities took advantage of the installation of the European flag under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to start a controversy. This replacement of the traditional tricolor flag marks the start of the French presidency of the European Union.

Marine Le Pen said she was “outraged that the French flag has been replaced by that of the European Union under the Arc de Triomphe, above the tomb of the unknown soldier”, denouncing a “provocation”. The other far-right presidential candidate, Eric Zemmour, also spoke of “contempt”.

“To preside over Europe yes, to erase the French identity no! “, Launched for her part the candidate of the Republicans Valérie Pécresse who asked” solemnly “to Emmanuel Macron to restore the tricolor next to that of Europe.

Same device as under Nicolas Sarkozy

Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune said on Saturday that the French flag, replaced by that of Europe under the Arc de Triomphe for the start of the French presidency of the EU, would “obviously” be reinstalled. “It is absurd to see the right mixing everything up and running desperately after the sterile controversies of the far-right”, added Clément Beaune, referring in particular to Valérie Pécresse.

To mark the start of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (“PFUE”) on January 1 for six months, the Eiffel Tower was also illuminated in blue, the color of Europe. Dozens of monuments will also be throughout France during the first week of January.

“The device (at the Arc de Triomphe) was set up for a few days, with the illuminations”, underlined Clément Beaune in a statement to AFP, recalling that the last rotating French presidency of the EU, under Nicolas Sarkozy, in 2008 had also opted for these illuminations. “The French flag will obviously be reinstalled. It is a symbolic and temporary initiative. », He concluded.