The road that would become Rue du Brexit in Beaucaire was previously unnamed. It is a circuitous road on an industrial estate that leaves Rue Robert Schuman (named for a founder of the European Economic Community) and rejoins it some 60 m (200 ft) later.[3][4] In 2016, following the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union the Front National mayor of Beaucaire Julien Sanchez, decided to name the road Rue du Brexit as a "homage to the decision of the sovereign British people".[4] Sanchez also justified Rue du Brexit as he said the then unnamed road needed a title to assist emergency services with location.[2] The motion for the naming was approved by Beaucaire council by a 29–9 vote.[1]
Reaction to the new street name was mixed worldwide. Leave.EU which campaigned for the UK to leave during the referendum called it "A fine choice!".[5] Sanchez revealed to French radio that he had received several messages of support from the UK, some of which he said were from Members of Parliament.[1] However, criticism was leveled at it for the location and direction with the American Washington Post calling it "an ugly, dead-end road".[5] Some of the local residents of Beaucaire also criticised Sanchez for using an English word for a French street.[4] Some newspapers also alleged it was done as a political reminder to French voters of the promise to hold a French referendum on European Union membership if the Front National leader Marine Le Pen won the 2017 French presidential election.[6]
