PARIS (Reuters). – A huge flag of the European Union was placed at the Arc de Triomphe, Paris, on Friday. It marked the beginning of France’s six month presidency of the bloc. The move drew outrage among far-right leaders.

Clement Beaune Junior European Affairs Minister, who had on Friday stated that the flag would be left for “several” days, said it had been removed as scheduled.

France Inter radio’s Beaune stated that while it was planned for the flag to be removed this Sunday, there was no exact time.

He rejected the notion that the government would cave in following Marine Le Pen’s far-right leader on Saturday, when she said she would appeal at France’s Council of State for the EU flag to be removed.

Le Pen declared on Sunday that “The government was forced to take down the EU flag from Arc de Triomphe. It is a stunning patriotic victory at 2022’s start.”

Beaune stated, “We didn’t back down. There was no change in plan. I fully assume France’s destiny is within Europe.”

Le Pen said Le Pen had made a mistake when he and other leaders claimed that the EU flag had replaced the French flag, as it isn’t permanently displayed at the Arc de Triomphe.

French President Emmanuel Macron defeated Le Pen by 66%-34% in a run-off in 2017.

Many polls predict a rematch of the two candidates in the next presidential election. Macron will win but by a narrower margin.