French Mayor Names Street ‘Rue du Brexit’ in Honour of Anti-EU Vote

The mayor of a town in southern France has named a new street “Rue du Brexit” in honour of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

Julien Sanchez, the mayor of Beaucaire, put the proposal to the town council, who passed it by 23 votes to nine.

Mr Sanchez, who is a member of Marine Le Pen’s populist Front National, will place the new street right next to Rue Robert Schuman, named after one of the founding fathers of the European project.

L’Express reports that the street will also be situated just a few yards from Avenue Jean Monnet, named after another major architect of European integration.

Front National Vice-President Florian Philippot said the decision “shows the commitment of the municipality [of Beaucaire] to the democratic will of the people.”

“Brexit is an act of liberation, independence, which is important to celebrate,” he added.

He also said that it may only be a matter of time before an “Avenue Frexit” also appears in French cities, expressing his hope that France, too, will leave the European Union.

The Front National has been surging in the polls in France as voters turn against mass immigration and European integration.

According to some polls, they are even the most popular party among French millennials, with more voters aged 18 to 31 saying they would vote for Marine Le Pen’s party than any other.

Mathieu Cahn, president of France’s National Association of Boards for Children and Youth (Anacej), said the Front National is especially attractive to young people who feel excluded from society.

One poll in May showed the three most important issues for young people were employment, immigration and security, areas where the establishment parties are seen as weak.

In the wake of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, Marine Le Pen praised Britain’s “courage” and called for a similar vote in France.

“We can again be a free, proud and independent people,” she said.