In order to honour Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, the currently nameless street on an industrial estate in Beaucaire in the Gard region, will be called “Rue du Brexit” according to mayor Julien Sanchez.
Announcing the move on Twitter, Sanchez said he wanted to “pay homage to the choice of the sovereign British people”.
“Brexit Street” will run next to streets named after pro-integrationists Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet, the two of the main architects of the EU.
In an interview with France Bleu, he denied that the decision was “polemical” and said it was in keeping with the European theme of the other road names in the area.
“We have already received lots of messages of thanks and congratulations from British people,” he said, adding that “British MPs are starting to talk about it”. The Twitter account for the British Leave.EU campaign has described the name as “a fine choice”.
French town to get Brexit street in 'tribute to the sovereign British people'.
Will we return the gesture? #Frexit https://t.co/02JdDfXY7j
— LEAVE.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) December 27, 2016
“I think that the people of Beaucaire are very happy that Europeans have reclaimed their sovereignty, and perhaps they will want to reclaim their own as well,” Sanchez said.
Only a few locals were less than charmed by the new name. One Twitter user said it was “perfectly ridiculous to attach a journalistic neoligism to a street, and an Anglicism as well.”
Another Twitter user sneered: “Why don’t you create an Aleppo Street to celebrate the entry of the Russians into Syria? That would be nice for Putin.” The Front National has repeatedly slammed EU sanctions on Russia because they hurt France.
Opponents have two months to appeal the name in the courts, but the chances of getting rid of “Rue du Brexit” are slim: The name has been approved by Beaucaire council by a 29 to 9 margin.
The Front National leader Marine le Pen has said that France should follow in Britain’s footsteps and vote to leave the EU. Le Pen, likely to make it into the second round in next year’s presidential election has dubbed herself “Madame Frexit”.
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