France Changed its Flag last Year and we’re only now Noticing

The new French flag flies on a rusted flagpole. It has existed for almost all of modern French history and has a dark shade of navy, compared to the EU’s Marian Blue. The President of the Republic has chosen for the tricolour flags that adorn the Élysée Palace the navy blue that evokes the imagination of the Volunteers of Year II, the Poilus of 1914 and the Compagnons de la Libération of Free France, said a statement from the Presidential Palace.

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The new French flag flies on a rusted flagpole. It has existed for almost all of modern French history and has a dark shade of navy, compared to the EU’s Marian Blue. “The President of the Republic has chosen for the tricolour flags that adorn the Élysée Palace the navy blue that evokes the imagination of the Volunteers of Year II, the Poilus of 1914 and the Compagnons de la Libération of Free France,” said a statement from the Presidential Palace.

Anthony Steffens, Ranger Review Reporter

The french tricolor was amended in July of 2020 in the Élysée Palace by French President Emmanuel Macron to return to post-revolution roots. The new navy blue was actually the flag of the French Republic for over 150 years. In 1976, President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing lightened the blue in the flag to match the European flag, which it is often flown next to. The color was returned to the original to honor the spirit of the revolution.

The French Revolution was a political overhaul of France that eliminated the monarchy in a series of bloody revolts. Before the revolution, the French flag was traditionally white with one or more gold Fleur-de-lys, a symbol of the French state. Revolutionaries preferred a simpler flag that better represented their values, birthing the modern tricolor. White symbolizes the traditions of France, especially the Bourbon dynasty, who had ruled for over 200 years. The red and blue represent the city of Paris, the birthplace of the revolution. When dissenters stormed the Bastille prison in 1789, they wore red and blue ribbons in their hats. The three colors also symbolize the values of the revolution: liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Giscard d’Estaing was a forward-minded internationalist who collaborated with other European states, especially West Germany. As president, he modernized the French state, which included increased trade with other countries. Changing the blue in the French flag was meant to prevent color clashes when flown by the European flag, but represents unity between France and Europe. France’s foreign policy to this day remains very euro-centric and globalist, being very lax in trade and diplomacy with its European neighbors.

The contemporary reversion to the original flag is more ceremonial than official. President Macron has given no official orders to change the flag nationwide. Both shades of blue have been in use in France since 1976, with the original blue remaining the flag of the navy. Some believe that the change from European blue to French may represent a rift between the two, but France still remains one of the head states of the European Union. Macron, a famous moderate, likely made this change as a silent nod to nationalist voters. He balances more pro-France nationalist and pro-Europe globalist
policies to appear to be on everyone’s side. His lack of recent statements attest to the fact that he refuses to take sides on the matter while appeasing both.

This minor flag change will likely have little effect on France, Europe, or the world, but symbolically represents reverence toward revolutionary roots. The fact that the media took so long to notice this amendment shows how subtle and deliberate it was. Macron made no political promises or bold statements with this change, favoring a humble gesture towards the origins of the French republic and spirit of revolution.