There is outrage in France because some newly elected mayors from Marine Le Pen’s right-wing Rassemblement National (RN) have lowered the European flag from their town halls.
Apr 01, 2026, 05:11Apr 01, 2026, 05:11
The new mayor of Carcassonne in the south of France, Christophe Barthès, was filmed lowering the blue EU flag hanging next to the French flag. «Away with the European flags at the town hall! Space for the French flags,” he wrote on the X platform.
Certain right-wing politicians in France no longer want to fly the EU flag.Image: keystone
“There is only one flag that is recognized in the constitution, namely the tricolor flag of blue, white and red,” said the mayor of Harnes in northern France, Anthony Garénaux-Glinkowski, who also lowered the European flag. The new right-wing mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer in southern France, Bryan Masson, also posted a photo showing the town hall exclusively with French flags.
Foreign Minister complains of “betrayal”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot lamented “a betrayal of who we are.” France wanted the European Union. “This is us.” There is no dissolution of national identity into European identity.
The liberal French MEP Valérie Hayer spoke of a “pseudo-patriotic gesture”. «They are against the European Union and want to stop French contributions. A real Frexit, which is just not called that.” Frexit is the name given to France leaving the EU. Even if Le Pen’s right-wing party no longer officially aims for this, its political plans are moving in this direction.
Return of millions in EU funding?
European Minister Benjamin Haddad countered the mayor of Carcassonne: “Are we going to give back the 3.4 million euros in EU funds for the Carcassonne hospital? Not to mention the funds for the city’s schools, for the redevelopment of the Viguier district or for the technical college?”
The blue EU flag was first adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955. In 1985, the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the EU, adopted the flag as its official logo. French town halls are not required to fly the flag. A law to require this was passed by the National Assembly in 2023, but the Senate has not yet considered it. (sda/dpa)