Why is France awarding London the Legion d’honneur?
Emmanuel Macron sparks controversy with move to commemorate the city’s help during WWII
French President Emmanuel Macron is planning to award London his country’s highest honour, according to reports.
Macron is said to want to present London with the the Legion d’honneur to commemorate the city’s support during the Second World War, when the English capital hosted exiled Free French Forces leader Charles de Gaulle.
But while some commentators have welcomed the plan as a means to help smooth Anglo-French diplomacy in the wake of Brexit, others have blasted Macron for honouring France’s “hereditary enemies”, The Times reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What does Macron have planned?
The Legion d’honneur is the highest French decoration and was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
As the Daily Mail explains, “it has been presented on behalf of the head of state to reward the most deserving citizens in all fields of activity”, and has also been awarded to cities including Luxembourg, in 1957, and most recently to the Republic of the Congo’s capital Brazzaville, in 2006.
French newspaper Le Figaro reports that Macron is now planning to bestow the Legion d’honneur upon London as part of France’s “year of de Gaulle” celebration, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of the former president and French Resistance leader.
Macron is believed to be planning to announce the award on 18 June, the 80th anniversary of de Gaulle’s famous Appeal speech from London calling on the French people to rise up against the German occupation of their country.
The Appeal is “regarded as the founding act of the Resistance” and was reproduced in English and broadcast on the BBC, says The Times.
And the response?
The reaction to Macron’s move has been mixed, with one French critic claiming on the Le Figaro website that “Napoleon Bonaparte must be turning in his grave”.
“He who created this medal and who was exiled to Saint Helena by the... English,” the disgruntled commentator added.
“The clearance sale of our Legion of Honour continues,” wrote another. “Mr Macron continues to destroy the French heritage.”
But Eric Bocquet, chair of the French senate’s Franco-British friendship committee, argues that the honour would be a “way of holding out a hand to the UK after Brexit”.
“It could be a way of showing that the UK is still part of Europe and that relations between Britain and France and between Britain and Europe are going to remain strong,” he added. “The English Channel is still just 21 miles wide and that isn’t going to change.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Olympics 2024: is Paris ready to party?
Talking Point Build-up to this summer's Games 'marred' by rows over national identity, security and pollution
By The Week UK Published
-
Solo travel: the 'ultimate indulgence in 2024'
The Week Recommends Why more of us are choosing to go on holiday on our own
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Goodbye Lenin? How Russian revolutionary haunts Vladimir Putin 100 years on
The Explainer Current president has a complicated and contradictory relationship with his Soviet predecessor
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
The Battle of Stalingrad 80 years on
In Depth Battle that turned the tide of Second World War remains a powerful symbol of patriotism in Russia
By The Week Staff Published
-
The battle of Bamber Bridge
In Depth The new Railway Children film draws on a forgotten wartime episode: a skirmish between black and white US soldiers in Lancashire
By The Week Staff Published
-
Vladimir Putin’s narrative of Russian victimhood examined
feature Russian president has repeatedly pointed to his country’s history to justify Ukraine invasion
By The Week Staff Published
-
Medieval warhorses ‘no bigger than modern ponies’
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Spain criminalises support for Franco in bid to heal divisions
In Depth New legislation includes fines of up to €150,000 for ‘glorifying’ the dictator and Spanish Civil War
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Can you solve GCHQ’s LGBT-themed Alan Turing brain-teaser?
Puzzles and Quizzes Spooks release puzzle as £50 note dedicated to the code breaker enters circulation
By The Week Staff Published
-
Woman misses out on £18m jackpot after washing ticket
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published