Newly elected mayors from France’s Rassemblement National (RN) party have begun their mandates by removing European Union flags from the pediments of town halls in several municipalities, including Carcassonne, Harnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, and Canohès.
The gesture is presented by the RN as a symbolic affirmation of national sovereignty, rather than a formal step toward leaving the EU.
In Carcassonne, the mayor broadcast the removal on social media, prompting mixed reactions among residents. While some welcomed the move as a statement of self-determination, others questioned its purpose, noting that the towns continue to benefit from European funds for local projects such as airports and agricultural support.
RN officials, including mayor Christophe Barthès, defended the action, emphasizing that European funds would not be affected. Barthès stated
The only flag that is worthy in my eyes and in the eyes of my compatriots is the blue-white-red flag.
The party maintains that no formal instructions were given.
Several RN politicians support and have congratulated these mayors. with MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy in the lead. For him, the European flag “is illegitimate” since the French said “no” in 2005 in the referendum on the European Constitution.
Responding on X, French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the removals “a betrayal of who we are”—which undermined France’s commitment to the EU as a means of ensuring peace, preserving independence, and asserting a vision of the world.
