from our reporter
PARIS – The European flag under the Arc de Triomphe has already been lowered, the first controversy of the year that lasted a few hours, but was enough to show how much The French election campaign will be held on icons And to what extent Europe has become – in spite of itself – an instrument in the race for the Elysee. From 1 January 2022 it is up to France to secure the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, and it seems that Head of State Emmanuel Macron is determined to exploit this circumstance to re-launch integration and find true European sovereignty, in line with the policy he has always supported in recent years since the evening of his victory, on May 7, 2017, when they wanted to cross the courtyard of the Louvre on the nights of the Beethoven anthem , hymn of joy, european anthem.

After Brexit disrupted the calendar of European presidencies, the Czech Republic made itself available to trade with Paris to prevent the vote for the Elysee – April 10 and 24, 2022 – from falling right in the middle of the French semester. However, Macron preferred to keep his commitment, to make the presidency of the European Union the defining moment for the end of his first term. So is his campaign (although he has not yet been officially re-nominated). Thus, last December 9, a large press conference was held to explain the stages of the European semester of international journalism; The continuous interventions of the ministers to emphasize the historical significance of the event; The Eiffel Tower and the Elysee Palace are illuminated in blue, the color of Europe; And On the night between Friday 31 December and Saturday 1 January a huge blue flag with 12 stars appeared under the Arc de Triomphe, the place of the French flag that is usually flown on official occasions.

The European flag had already appeared in 2008, under Sarkozy’s leadership, but on that occasion alongside the national flag. This time blue white red aside, albeit for a few hours, this He angered both right-wing and far-right candidates – These are the only ones who can at the moment alarm Macron – and also supporters of France Insoumise (the radical left). Marine Le Pen talked about the provocation An appeal was announced before the State Council. Eric Zemmour protest the anger, e La Giulista Valley in Cris (Perhaps the most dangerous opponent of Macron) denounced the abolition of the French identity.

Yesterday the European flag disappeared: According to the schedule, confirms the Elysee, who initially spoke of a few days under the Arc de Triomphe. Marine Le Pen and the others cheer as if they have successfully repelled the enemy’s invasion, and Macron finds himself having to deal with the unwanted impact of his courageous pro-European choice: Europe, closely associated with the person of the current president, could become a collateral victim of the Elysee campaign, rejected by many French who would not vote for Macron (ie the majority, at least in the first round).