PARIS, France — Nearly two dozen city halls in France have been flying the Palestinian flag from their entrances on Monday in defiance of an inside ministry warning not to take action forward of the recognition of a Palestinian state by President Emmanuel Macron.
The French president was as a consequence of acknowledge a Palestinian state in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations Common Meeting, following up on a pledge he made in the summertime that angered Israel.
Nevertheless, hardline Inside Minister Bruno Retailleau, who can also be chief of the right-wing Republicans Celebration, issued a round final week ordering prefects — the highest native state-appointed officers — to oppose the flying of the flags.
“The precept of neutrality in public service prohibits such shows,” the inside ministry mentioned, including that any selections by mayors to fly the Palestinian flag needs to be referred to courts.
However the Socialist Celebration (PS) mayor of Nantes, Johanna Rolland, mentioned on X: “This night, the president will announce on the UN the popularity of the State of Palestine. Nantes is supporting this historic choice by the French Republic by elevating the Palestinian flag for the day.”
The flag was already flying in entrance of her city corridor in Nantes, one of many main cities in western France, an AFP correspondent reported.
Saint-Denis mayor Mathieu Hanotin (R) makes a press release subsequent to elected officers, together with French socialist get together first secretary Olivier Faure (L), after a flag-raising ceremony of the Palestinian flag outdoors Saint-Denis city corridor, close to Paris, on September 22, 2025. (STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
‘Historic day for peace’
The huge Paris suburb of Saine-Saint-Denis additionally raised the Palestinian flag at a ceremony attended by PS chief Olivier Faure, who has bitterly opposed Retailleau’s order and mentioned he has written to Macron asking the president to rescind it.
“It’s a signal of solidarity with this choice” to acknowledge a Palestinian state, he advised BFMTV.
The city halls of at the least half a dozen Paris suburbs run by left-wing events additionally hoisted the flag.
In complete, 21 city halls throughout the nation have been flying it, the inside ministry mentioned.
French Overseas Minister Jean-Noel Barrot appeared cautious of being drawn into the talk on what he described as a “historic day for peace.”
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a joint press convention with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Toulon, southern France, August 29, 2025. (Manon Cruz/Pool by way of AP)
“I are not looking for… it for use for political polemics, to divide us at a time when, greater than ever, we must be united to be sturdy,” he advised TF1 tv.
Each the Israeli and Palestinian flags, in addition to peace photographs of a dove and olive department, have been projected late on Sunday onto the Eiffel Tower, which was illuminated in celebration of the popularity of the Palestinian state.
“Paris reaffirms its dedication to peace, which greater than ever requires a two-state resolution,” Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Bluesky.
