This December 23, 2024 is a day of national mourning, after the passage of cyclone Chido in Mayotte. We explain what it consists of.
On a trip to Mayotte following Cyclone Chido, which could have claimed hundreds of victims in total on the archipelago, Emmanuel Macron announced a day of national mourning on December 23.
“We all share the pain of the Mahorais,” the President of the Republic lamented on his X account.
A decree presidential
“It is the President of the Republic who signs the decree establishing national mourning. He can decree one or more days of mourning”, note Public life. Then, it is up to the Prime Minister, in this case François Bayrou, to set the terms.
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In some cases, the head of government may decide to organize a minute of silence.
This Monday, at 11 a.m., a minute of silence will take place, the head of state announced this Thursday from the Mayotte archipelago.
Flags at half-mast
One of the particularities of the days of national mourning is the lowering of flags to half-mast. That is to say, lowered to half-height. This concerns those that are hung on public buildings as well as army standards.
The last one dates back to 2020
The last day of national mourning dates back to 2020, decreed on the death of the former President of the Republic Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
Three consecutive days were organized after the Charlie Hebdo attacks on January 7, 2015. It was the first time that it lasted more than 24 hours.
Finally in 2001, after the September 11 attacks in the United States, a day of national mourning was was declared for the first time to commemorate an event occurring abroad.
Before 1958, only one day of national mourning had been declared: on the occasion of the deadly floods that occurred in the South of France in 1930. Hundreds of people lost their lives. In total, during the Fifth Republic, such days were declared nine times.