French President Emmanuel Macron is roundly booed while waving to Bastille Day crowds from a military car along Champs-Elysees weeks after riots rocked the country
- This year’s Bastille Day celebrations come weeks after riots gripped France
- More than 100,000 officers were deployed around France to curb violence
Emmanuel Macron was roundly booed while waving to the crowds during today’s Bastille Day celebrations – as more than 100,000 police officers were deployed around France to prevent another outbreak of riots.
The national celebrations come at a delicate time for the French president, who received a hostile reception as he was driven down the Champs-Elysees in a military car.
Mr Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age sparked months of protest across France, while the country was gripped by further riots after 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk was ‘executed’ by the police on June 27.
Bastille Day is the national day of France and marks the start of the French Revolution in 1789 when an angry and aggressive mob stormed the state prison on the east side of Paris. This year, fireworks have been banned in a bid to curb violence on the streets.
As Mr Macron stood up in the back of the military car followed by a motorcade, soldiers and horses, he was greeted with resounding boos, highlighting how recent decisions have severely damaged his popularity ratings.
President Emmanuel Macron was roundly booed while waving to the crowds during today’s Bastille Day celebrations
This year’s Bastille Day celebrations come weeks after France was rocked by riots (right) in the wake of the ‘execution’ of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk by French police
The French President waved to crowds despite the poor reception he received as he went down the Champs-Elysees
In further footage taken from within the crowd, whistling from French gendarmes on high alert was not enough to drown out a chorus of jeers aimed at the French president.
Just weeks after France was rocked by riots – and days after Mr Macron was sent a severed human finger in the post – the country celebrated the national holiday with whizzing warplanes and a grand parade.
READ MORE: French President Emmanuel Macron is sent a severed human FINGER in the post following riots last week
The celebrations have been somewhat overshadowed by the nation’s most serious rioting in nearly 20 years, following the fatal police shooting of Nahel M, who had North African roots, that laid bare anger over entrenched inequality and racial discrimination.
Fighter jets and military helicopters flew right above the site where the teenager was killed last month, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, on their way toward the Arc de Triomphe and the VIP guests watching the parade.
The streets were unusually quiet as local residents gathered at Nanterre’s Nelson Mandela Square to watch the flyby.
Amid the negative reaction from some members of the crowd, others were delighted to see the French president – who took time to take selfies and speak with them.
India was the guest of honour at this year’s Bastille Day parade, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi watching alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. About 240 Indian troops led the march down the Champs-Elysees before thousands of French forces, and French-made Indian warplanes joined the aerial display.
France often showcases international partners on Bastille Day, and the choice of India comes as France looks to further strengthen cooperation on fighting climate change, military sales and countering China’s growing influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
A chorus of boos and jeers could be heard drowning out the military parade in France this afternoon
Today, France celebrated the national holiday with whizzing warplanes and a grand parade. Pictured: Mr Macron at the military parade
French President Emmanuel Macron poses for a selfie with a woman after the Bastille Day military parade
India was the guest of honour at this year’s Bastille Day parade, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi watching alongside French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured together)
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron watch the parade
About 240 Indian troops led the march down the Champs-Elysees before thousands of French forces, and French-made Indian warplanes joined the aerial display. Pictured: Prime Minister Modi and Mr Macron meet with WWII veteran Henri Becker during the annual Bastille Day military parade
Despite the chorus of boos in the crowd, others were delighted to see Mr Macron and he took selfies with them
Macron walks on the day of the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris
But human rights were missing from the vast agenda, despite concerns raised by European lawmakers, rights groups and others.
Russia’s war in Ukraine – central to last year’s Bastille Day celebrations – echoed in this year’s events as well. Vehicles on display included the Caesar anti-missile batteries that France is providing to Ukraine, and Ukrainian officials were invited to join Macron in the VIP seats.
On the eve of France’s national day, Macron gave a posthumous Legion of Honour award to a French journalist killed in Ukraine earlier this year, Arman Soldin of news agency Agence France-Presse.
The Bastille Day parade included 6,500 people marching, 94 planes and helicopters, 219 ground vehicles, 200 horses and 86 dogs.
Festivities are held in towns and cities around France to commemorate the storming of the Bastille prison that marked the Revolution, and to celebrate France’s ideals of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity.’
But the motto rings hollow for many people living in neglected housing projects who trace their roots to former French colonies and struggle with lack of opportunity and day-to-day racism. These issues came to the fore after Nahel’s killing in Nanterre, during a traffic stop.
The fatal shooting at point-blank range, captured on video, sparked several days of clashes with police, burning of buildings and vehicles and looting of stores in cities and towns around France.
Friday’s Bastille Day celebrations come just weeks after France was rocked by severely violent riots
After months of protests over Macron’s hated pension reforms, France was gripped by more riots after 17-year-old Nahel was killed
Fireworks were banned from this year’s Bastille Day celebrations in a bid to prevent further riots
More than 100,000 police officers were deployed around France to prevent another outbreak of riots
The Bastille Day parade included 6,500 people marching, 94 planes and helicopters, 219 ground vehicles, 200 horses and 86 dogs
The roses on a roadside memorial to Merzouk on the Boulevard des Bouvets had long withered by Friday’s Bastille Day celebrations.
A nearby Monoprix supermarket was still boarded up, and the walls near the intersection where the police shot and killed the teenager were still tagged with words of anger: ‘Vengeance for Nahel,’ anti-police slogan ‘ACAB,’ and ‘Death to the king,’ an apparent dig at what is seen as Macron’s out-of-touch leadership.
Still, some residents who gathered to watch the holiday flyover saw reasons to celebrate Bastille Day.
‘It’s a moment of pleasure,’ said Aurélie V., 38, who accompanied her newborn infant to watch the parade. She spoke on condition her last name not be used because of continued tensions in her neighborhood. ‘I came here to share this with my son, to show the strength of our country.’
Macron hasn’t directly addressed the issues raised by the killing of Nahel, focusing instead on supporting towns that saw damage in rioting.
The French president and his wife Brigitte Macron walk hand in hand during the military parade
France’s President Emmanuel Macron waves as he leaves the annual Bastille Day military parade
Indian troops march during the Bastille Day military parade Friday, July 14. They were the invited country this year
The choice of India comes as France looks to further strengthen cooperation on fighting climate change, military sales and countering China’s growing influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) parades with Republican Guard cavalry officers
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and French First Lady Brigitte Macron (down L) greet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi
A presidential aide said that the recent violence had ‘no impact’ on plans for the Bastille Day parade, but said the celebrations come ‘at a time when it is necessary to reaffirm national cohesion.’
Mr Macron invited Donald Trump for the 2017 celebrations, and the then U.S. president was so impressed by the French march-past that he asked Pentagon officials to explore a similar parade in celebration of American troops.
Because unrest tends to spike every year around Bastille Day and because France remains on edge, the government deployed an exceptional 130,000 police Thursday and Friday.
Overnight Thursday to Friday, the Interior Ministry reported 97 people arrested in urban violence and 218 cars set alight around the country. That was slightly lower than last year.
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