France celebrates National Day with Olympic Torch amid political crisis
“The greatness of this country lies not only in its history but in its ability to forge alliances,” Macron declared during the National Day celebrations in 2023. The President has not found an agreement to ease the current political instability, which has been reflected in today’s parade.
While France’s government seems directionless, this Sunday’s Bastille Day celebrations have lost some of the grandeur of previous editions. The military parade, typically held on Les Champs-Élysées, was more modestly conducted on Avenue Foch, with fewer troops, fewer planes, and no armoured vehicles.
This unusual shift is due to the preparations underway in the French capital on the usual parade route in anticipation of the Olympic Games. For the same reason, the Trocadero and Champ-de-Mars areas did not host the usual million-strong crowd this year. With the Olympic Games just 12 days away, the city has had to share the space.
The government decided to combine France’s National Day celebrations with the arrival of the Olympic torch in the capital. Colonel Thibault Vallette, from the elite Cadre Noir de Saumur riding school and a gold medallist in equestrianism at Rio 2016, was responsible for bringing the flame to the presidential stage on Sunday morning. From there, the Olympic flame will travel around the city throughout today and Monday.
Around 520 people will take turns carrying the torches over distances of 200 to 400 metres each, including notable figures such as former footballer and current under-21 national team coach Thierry Henry, who will start the relay at Les Champs-Élysées. A distinguished selection of personalities from sports and the arts, along with many anonymous citizens, will also participate.
The National Assembly, the Panthéon, the Sorbonne, the Place de la Bastille, the Bataclan Theatre, the Olympia Concert Hall, Place Vendome, the Louvre Museum, and the Centre Pompidou are some of the highlights of Sunday’s route, which will conclude at the Town Hall where a cauldron will be lit tonight.
On Monday, the journey will start at the new La Chapelle Arena, a venue for the Olympic rhythmic gymnastics and badminton competitions. From there, the Olympic flame will travel across the city, visiting symbolic sites such as the Sacre-Cœur Basilica, the Arc de Triomphe, the Trocadero with its views of the Eiffel Tower, the Roland Garros tennis courts, and the Place de la Bastille. The tour will end at the Place de la Republique, home to the iconic Marianne statue, where another cauldron will be lit.
Amid a government crisis
Another aspect reflecting the altered celebrations is that Emmanuel Macron, unlike in previous years, has not invited a high-profile political figure to attend the National Day parade. Last year, for instance, the guest of honour was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
With the Olympics around the corner, France has foregone an international star for the parade, and French political leaders seem more focused on the government’s power vacuum than on such details. The snap elections held this month, called by Macron to clarify France’s direction after the far-right led in the European elections, left the country without a ruling minority.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal submitted his resignation to President Macron, who asked him to remain provisionally to ensure the country’s stability, though without setting a deadline. Attal recently stated that he would stay as long as duty required, especially considering the Paris Olympics begin on 26th July. With the government in limbo and Macron constitutionally barred from calling new elections for 12 months, far-right leader Marine Le Pen is eyeing the 2027 race with relish.
Meanwhile, the top spot in the elections was claimed by a hastily formed left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP), which now has the majority of deputies but no clear candidate for Prime Minister. The incendiary Jean-Luc MElenchon and his party France Unbowed (LFI) have alienated many, even on the left, while centrists and right-wing politicians say they would not welcome their deputies in a coalition.
In this context, the scaled-down and redirected parade risks becoming another symbol of drift ahead of the Games, which will take place from 26 July to 11 August.