EU flag disappears from Arc de Triomphe, French Right celebrates
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The French Right, namely Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, celebrated after the European Union flag disappeared from underneath l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
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The EU flag waving under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France
The European Union's flag disappeared from under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Sunday after it was flying under there just the day before. The flag disappeared following an outcry from the French right-wing, saying it replaced national colors.
The EU's blue-with-stars flag had been under the arc's vault on New Year's Eve to mark the handover of the bloc's rotating presidency to France on January 1.
The far-right leaders of the French opposition criticized the move, saying it was an insult to France's national identity, as well as one to the tomb of an unknown soldier at the arc's base.
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Nation Rally party described the flag's removal as "a beautiful patriotic victory," thanking "all those in love with France and the Republic" for pushing back against President Emmanuel Macron.
Une belle victoire patriotique à l’aube de 2022 !
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) January 2, 2022
Le gouvernement a été obligé de retirer le drapeau de l’Union européenne de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Merci à la mobilisation massive de tous les amoureux de la France et de la République pour faire reculer Emmanuel Macron. https://t.co/BNNJ0BJMhG
The opposition had accused Macron of using France's EU presidency for campaigning. He is expected to announce his attempt for reelection ahead of the April election.
The French president's opponents are Marine Le Pen, The Republican's Valerie Pecresse, and Eric Zemmour, all of which are right-wing candidates.
All of the candidates have a right wing agenda, with Emmanuel Macron, very recently proposing a ban on the hijab, Marine Le Pen, described by some as a "moderate" racist, Eric Zemmour, claiming to be the man who "will shake up France," and Valerie Pecresse pledging to stop "uncontrolled immigration" to France.
