• On Saturday, May 6, several hundred ultra-right activists gathered in the sixth arrondissement of Paris. Among the symbols visible on sweaters and flags, the Celtic cross came back insistently.
  • Derived from a Christian cross, it is a "civilizational symbol that transcends nationalities" and affirms a common European identity linked to Catholicism, explains political scientist Jean-Yves Camus.
  • Should we ban this symbol, like the swastika?

The streets of the sixth arrondissement of Paris were tinged with black and white on Saturday, on the occasion of a demonstration of far-right groups. Black shirts, black jackets, caps and masks, black sheets covered with slogans painted white, and in the ranks, many black flags struck with a white Celtic cross. The symbol was by far the most present, shared by all the small groups gathered.

What is the Celtic cross? Why has this ancient symbol become a neo-fascist rallying sign? What message does it refer to? Should its use be banned? 20 Minutes looks at the Celtic cross, with political scientist Jean-Yves Camus, a specialist in the far right.

What is the Celtic cross?

Originally, the Celtic cross "is a Christian cross", recalls Jean-Yves Camus, particularly widespread in Great Britain, Ireland and Brittany in the early medieval period. It combines, in this religious representation, the classical Latin cross with a circle, symbolizing the Holy Host, whose branches of the cross protrude. Subsequently, like the Indian swastika before it (which became the Nazi swastika), it was "hijacked after the Second World War by neo-fascist movements," explains the political scientist.

"We needed a sign that brought people together," he justifies, but "all collaborationist acronyms were banned." As a political symbol, it loses its lower leg to become a regular cross that protrudes from a circle. In its least stylized version, it looks like a gun sight. "Pierre Sidos claimed paternity and had filed an approved model," says Jean-Yves Camus.

What message does the choice of the Celtic cross refer to?

By taking up a symbol of medieval northern Europe, the ultra-right has endowed itself with a "civilizational symbol that transcends nationalities," says Jean-Yves Camus. He also stresses that among the rallying cries of these nationalists attached to the sovereignty of the France, is the "Europe youth revolution" of the GUD (Union Defense Group), chanted Saturday.

In the ideology of this "neo-fascist" movement, there is a European identity "one of the major components of which is belonging to Christianity," explains the political scientist. Hence the choice of a symbol directly related to religion. In addition, he points out that while the Celtic cross is widespread within the far right, there are notable exceptions, such as Action française, which uses the fleur-de-lys of royalty.

Should the Celtic cross (and ultra-right demonstrations) be banned?

For Jean-Yves Camus, the release of flags struck with the Celtic cross is part of the "ritual" within this movement, during "known commemorations" on a fixed date. This is the case for the anniversary of the death of Sébastien Deyzieu, since May 9, 1994, but also since 1980 with the tribute to Joan of Arc. The one that was to be held on Sunday was also banned, after the slogan transmitted by Gérald Darmanin to the prefects.



But the political scientist says he is "generally suspicious of generalist prohibitions": "One can ban one symbol, another will emerge, it is an endless race. [...] These demonstrations, even banned ones, will be held," he told 20 Minutes. Apart from a hostile atmosphere towards journalists, he also points out the absence of excesses around these annual commemorations. "The only new thing is that there were 650 this year because people came up from all over the France. It gives a snapshot of the national movement" valuable to the intelligence services, which a ban could disrupt. "The political mistake is that we cannot both ban the breaks and let the far right march," he said.

  • Politics
  • Paris
  • Ile
  • Christianity
  • Far right
  • Ultra-right
  • Fascism