In France, Julien Charles, the prefect of the Seine-Saint-Denis department, asked the mayor of Saint-Denis from the 'Unsubmissive France' party, Balla Baïdyoko, to reconsider his decision to display President Emmanuel Macron's portrait upside down. This was reported by BFMTV, as noted by bb.lv. The prefect of the Seine-Saint-Denis department, Julien Charles, announced on Wednesday, May 6, that he had asked Mayor Balla Baïdyoko to reconsider his decision, while acknowledging that this gesture is not illegal. "Hanging the portrait of the President of the Republic in town halls, although it is not a legal obligation, is a custom sanctioned by republican tradition," wrote Prefect Julien Charles in a letter sent on Tuesday to the new mayor of Saint-Denis-Pierrefitte (150,000 residents), the second most populous municipality in Île-de-France after Paris. "Its role is to unite citizens around institutions, beyond political disagreements," claims the prefect, for whom Balla Baïdyoko's action "contradicts this established practice." He urges the mayor to "reconsider his position" and "ensure respect for republican tradition." Balla Baïdyoko, for his part, stated that the prefect's letter is unnecessary. "Our approach is entirely legal, and we fully support it," noted the mayor, who is campaigning for the election of left-wing radical Jean-Luc Mélenchon as president in 2027. "The portrait will remain in its place until the state fulfills its obligations under the republican pact, particularly regarding the residents of our territory," he added. Back in April, journalists noted that Emmanuel Macron's portrait, taken down from the wall, was turned upside down in the corner of the new mayor's office from 'Unsubmissive France.' The story of the portrait has turned into a vivid dispute over politics and symbols. Formally, everything is legal, but there is no compromise in sight — each side stands its ground, and the ordinary portrait has become a cause for a significant conflict, writes bb.lv.