Christophe Barthès

Christophe Barthès is the newly elected mayor of Carcassonne, France, representing the Rassemblement National (RN) party. He gained office in recent municipal elections, marking a significant shift in the city's political landscape. Barthès's actions have quickly drawn national and international attention. He is newsworthy primarily due to his controversial decision to remove the European Union flag from the Carcassonne city hall, replacing it with the French flag. This act, along with an anti-begging ordinance, has sparked criticism and accusations of right-wing extremism. He is also accused of infiltrating a group of lyceens. Despite his anti-EU stance, it's been highlighted that Barthès, a viticulturist, personally benefits from EU subsidies. His actions are relevant as they reflect a broader trend of newly elected RN mayors challenging European symbols and policies, raising questions about the party's approach to local governance and its relationship with the EU.