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UK expats in France unhappy with new street name
| Published: | 28 Dec at 6 PM |
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A far-right French mayor is causing annoyance to UK expats and pro-Europeans by his naming of a local road as ‘Brexit Street’ in honour of Britain’s referendum decision.
Far-right Mayor of Beaucaire Julien Sanchez has caused resentment and controversy by his decision to ‘create a buzz’ by naming a road in an industrial estate after the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Even worse and obviously deliberate is the location of Rue du Brexit close by two streets named for European integration architects Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman.
As reported in the Local, on replying to a Twitter tweet Sanchez stated his move was aimed at ‘paying homage to the choice of the sovereign British people’. In an interview with France Bleu, he added his decision was in keeping with other European-themed streets in the estate. He’s convinced local people are more than happy abut the UK’s decision to regain its sovereignty, and hopes the French will do the same in the not-too-distant future.
In contrast to the mayor’s belief that British people will be overjoyed at his action, it seems the move wasn’t universally popular, either on or offline and even with French supporters of the far right-wing politics of the Fronte Nationale (NF). Twitter comments included ridicule that Anglicism as well as journalistic ‘neoligism’ was being attached to a street in France.
Another tweet encouraged Sanchez to use ‘Aleppo Street’ as well, thus celebrating Russian warmongering in Syria. Referring to the NF’s closeness to Russia, the tweet inferred Putin would be very happy.
Britain’s Leave campaign couldn’t resist a comment, saying the name was a fine choice, thus inspiring an immediate reply questioning whether the road itself is a cul-de-sac. Although the incident might well be considered by UK expats in France as nothing but a big joke, expat concerns centre around the 2017 French presidential election and the NF far-right leader Marine le Pen, self-dubbed as ‘Madame Frexit’. However, French polls show a surge in support for EU membership following the announcement of the Brexit result.
Far-right Mayor of Beaucaire Julien Sanchez has caused resentment and controversy by his decision to ‘create a buzz’ by naming a road in an industrial estate after the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Even worse and obviously deliberate is the location of Rue du Brexit close by two streets named for European integration architects Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman.
As reported in the Local, on replying to a Twitter tweet Sanchez stated his move was aimed at ‘paying homage to the choice of the sovereign British people’. In an interview with France Bleu, he added his decision was in keeping with other European-themed streets in the estate. He’s convinced local people are more than happy abut the UK’s decision to regain its sovereignty, and hopes the French will do the same in the not-too-distant future.
In contrast to the mayor’s belief that British people will be overjoyed at his action, it seems the move wasn’t universally popular, either on or offline and even with French supporters of the far right-wing politics of the Fronte Nationale (NF). Twitter comments included ridicule that Anglicism as well as journalistic ‘neoligism’ was being attached to a street in France.
Another tweet encouraged Sanchez to use ‘Aleppo Street’ as well, thus celebrating Russian warmongering in Syria. Referring to the NF’s closeness to Russia, the tweet inferred Putin would be very happy.
Britain’s Leave campaign couldn’t resist a comment, saying the name was a fine choice, thus inspiring an immediate reply questioning whether the road itself is a cul-de-sac. Although the incident might well be considered by UK expats in France as nothing but a big joke, expat concerns centre around the 2017 French presidential election and the NF far-right leader Marine le Pen, self-dubbed as ‘Madame Frexit’. However, French polls show a surge in support for EU membership following the announcement of the Brexit result.
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