France has begun this Friday the celebrations for the day of the national holiday with the traditional military parade, which has been presided over by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, because this country was the special guest this year. The security device has been more ambitious than on other occasions, to avoid any incident, especially after the wave of violence that shook the country two weeks ago, after the death of Nahel, the 17-year-old who died after receiving the shot by an agent at a police checkpoint in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris.
The parade has started at 10. Emmanuel Macron has descended the Champs Elysées until he reaches the Place de la Concorde. On the way some boos and shouts of resignation have been heard. He has done so by riding in a light reconnaissance vehicle that is used in operations, especially in the Sahel, where France has always had a strong military presence. In the rostrum they were waiting for him, in addition to Modi, the first lady, Brigitte Macronthe prime minister, Elizabeth Borneas well as the interior ministers, Gerald Darmaninor that of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti.
Since 1880, July 14 has been celebrated as the national holiday in the country in commemoration of the storming of the Bastille in 1789, during the French Revolution, but also for the federation holiday, which, on the same date the following year, celebrated the triumphs of the revolution and the storming of the Bastille.
The invitation of honor to India is in tribute to the more than one million Indian soldiers who participated in the First World War, 74,000 of whom died during the conflict. Although not only for that: France has just sold 26 Rafale aircraft to India. Macron has awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor to the Prime Minister.
The parade has opened it, as a novelty this year, an animation of 80 musicians from different countries (USA, Canada, Spain, Germany or Greece, among others) with which France has alliances.