The French flag quietly changed color: from cobalt blue to navy blue

According to Agence France Presse on November 15, the office of French President macron darkened the French flag used by the Elysee Palace, the national assembly and government departments in July last year. In this way, the color of the French tricolor flag is the same as that of the flag after the French Revolution.

The colors of the two French flags are contrasted, cobalt blue on the left and navy blue on the right

The French flag is a three color flag vertically arranged in blue, white and red from left to right. It first appeared during the French Revolution. The color is taken from the French national emblem (red and blue) at that time, plus the color of the French royal family. On February 15, 1794, the flag was finally determined as the flag of the first Republic of France. The blue used the darker navy blue.

Since then, the color of the French tricolor flag has been fixed. There are also some secrets in the French tricolor flag - because of the difference in human visual perception of color and flag fluttering, the sizes of blue, white and red color blocks are different. At present, the proportions of the three colors are 30%, 33% and 37% respectively, which can just correct the optical error of flag fluttering. In addition, the French Constitution clearly stipulates the specifications of the national flag, and the length and width must be 3:2.

It was not until 1976 that val é ry Giscard d'Estaing, a staunch Pro European, was elected president. In order to highlight the good relationship between France and the European Union and avoid color conflict, it was decided to lighten the blue. This blue is called cobalt blue.

However, on July 13, 2020, the eve of last year's French National Day military parade, macron decided to use the new color flag of navy blue at the suggestion of Arnold jorens, then the operation director of the Elysee Palace.

France's first radio station in Europe quoted French officials as saying, "this is first of all due to aesthetic considerations. After all, navy blue looks more elegant. More importantly, macron wants to restore the national flag to what it looked like in 1793." Admiral Bernard Roger, chief of staff of the French navy, told the media that the French Navy uses navy blue when flying the national flag.

After the news came out, it raised doubts about the relationship between France and the EU. But the French government responded that the change in the blue of the French flag should not be interpreted too deeply. They stressed that discoloration is not an anti EU stance. There is only one historical reason for macron's move, which makes the national flag return to its original appearance. "There is no 'Blue struggle', not to oppose or distinguish from 'EU blue' before France assumes the rotating presidency of the EU".

In addition, some people in the French government think that the new flag is ugly, conflicts with the European flag, and others think that this flag is outdated. However, France's "Europe 1" said that there was no mandatory order within the French government to change the color of the national flag, and considered it an "incentive practice". Macron also "unintentionally" touched on the deepest symbols of the country.

The analysis also said that less than half a year before the French presidential election in 2022, the news exposure was "politicized", which successfully created a social hot topic for macron. Although there were objections, it generally increased attention and popularity. France will assume the rotating presidency of the EU in January next year, while macron will face a presidential election seeking re-election in April next year.