FRENCH PRESIDENT CHANGES BLUE USED IN NATIONAL FLAG

It was such a subtle change that it took people three years to notice.

French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a change of the colour blue used in the country’s national flag back in 2018 already.

But why make the change in the first place?

News24 reports that the navy blue colour marks a return to tradition. It had been then-President Valery Giscard d’Estaing who switched the brighter blue in 1976 so that it matched the colour of the European flag, which displays yellow stars on a blue background.

While some might have noticed the change, most people hadn’t even noticed until journalists Eliot Blondet and Paul Larrouturou revealed the change in a book titled “Elysee Confidential” that was published during the autumn.

According to Arnaud Jolens, the head of operations at the Elysee Palace the change of the colour blue from light to navy in the French national flag cost 5000 euros.

Since then, many have noticed that the flags hanging outside the Elysee Palace as well as those used in the background when the President represents the country or make official speeches are always the version with the navy blue.

Image credit: India Times