French President Macron Has Changed The Flag, Can You Spot The Difference?

French President Emmanuel Macron has changed the colour of the national flag to get it back to its post-French revolution form, according to reports.

The change that started taking place officially about a year ago, appears to have gone unnoticed until now. An official pointed out that Macron has been using the changed flag as a backdrop for his speeches since early 2018.

The French tricolour flag comprises vertical bands of blue, white and red. The current change is noticed in the shade of the blue as it has been changed to a navy blue colour instead of the lighter version that was in place for four decades now.

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⚡️ “Macron changes colour of French flag” by @euronews https://t.co/wriyCPFL9K

— euronews (@euronews) November 15, 2021

“The President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron) has chosen for the tricolour flags that adorn the Élysée Palace the navy blue that empowers the imagination of the Volunteers of Year II, the Poilus of 1914 and the Compagnons de la Libération of Free France,” said the Presidency.

“It is also the blue of the flag that has always flown under the Arc de Triomphe every (Armistice Day) 11 November,” it added.

Au dernier Compagnon. pic.twitter.com/KY2j300x4i

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 11, 2021

The French state started using a lighter shade of blue in its flag following the French Revolution in the 1970s. The lighter shade, recognized as Marian Blue (bleu marine), closely resembles the shade of the European Union flag. It has been suspected that Macron’s decision to change the shade is an indicator of a growing war between France and the EU.

The change does not require significant political or legislative negotiation. The French navy has been using the navy blue version of tricolour since the 18th century. Flags of both shades are widely used, according to reports.

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Financially, Macron’s move to replace the flags at his official residence in Elysée Palace and other presidential buildings will cost a token €5,000, according to Arnaud Jolens, the Elysée’s director of operations.

The French presidential elections are scheduled for April 2022. Macron, an EU leader, is up for re-election and is expected to face tough challenges from several sides, including right-winger Marine Le Pen.