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Same symbol, same controversy but no longer the same context. The European flag was unfurled once more this Thursday under the Arc de Triomphe on the occasion of the EU summit in Versailles, following the controversy caused by its installation on December 31 to celebrate the French presidency of the Council of the EU . The starry blue flag was to fly for two days, until the end of the summit on Friday followingnoon, said the Elysée.
On December 31, its implementation had provoked the anger of several presidential candidates including Marine Le Pen, Éric Zemmour, Valérie Pécresse and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, some denouncing an unpatriotic act, others demanding that a French flag be added above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The European flag was removed less than two days later, “in accordance with the planned timing” according to the Elysée, while RN candidate Marine Le Pen claimed this withdrawal as a “beautiful patriotic victory”.
This time, and despite a united Europe bruised by the conflict between Russians and Ukrainians, only Éric Zemmour, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan and Marine Le Pen tried to reignite the controversy. The first considering that Emmanuel Macron “humiliates” France, where the second evokes an “indignity” on the part of the President of the Republic.
As for the candidate of the National Rally, she believes that Emmanuel Macron “violates the law” and plays “the permanent provocation with regard to the French people”.
A controversy for nothing
Last January, Emmanuel Macron then denounced “a bad controversy” and said he was “proud” of this “symbol of peace” which, according to him, had been placed under the monument at a time when “there was no nothing”, that is to say no tricolor flag.
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Several other monuments, like the Eiffel Tower, remained lit in blue for a week. Emmanuel Macron welcomes the leaders of the 26 other EU countries late Thursday followingnoon for an informal summit intended to lay the foundations for a more sovereign Europe following the shock of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
