France’s President Emmanuel Macron critiques the troops throughout the Bastille Day army parade on the Avenue Foch, in Paris on July 14, 2024. Agence France-Presse
PARIS — France doesn’t know the place its authorities is headed and on Sunday the armed forces may also take an uncommon detour initially of their annual Bastille Day march.
Preparations to host the Olympic Video games blocked the nationwide day parade from its conventional route on the Champs Elysees, and a smaller army contingent will as a substitute march on the close by Avenue Foch — probably the most prestigious streets in Paris and probably the most costly addresses on the earth.
This won’t be the one uncommon characteristic of the the occasion: France can also be with out a authorities, lower than two weeks earlier than the Video games.
READ: France in limbo after Macron gamble deepens political impasse
All eyes will probably be on the host, President Emmanuel Macron, who final yr lower a extra spectacular determine, internet hosting rising superpower India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at France’s triumphant nationwide day parade.
However, with the Olympics simply across the nook, France has no worldwide star visitor for this yr’s parade — and French political leaders’ minds will probably be elsewhere, pondering the ability vacuum.
This month’s snap elections, referred to as by Macron to make clear France’s path after the far proper despatched shockwaves by way of the political institution by coming first in European polls, left the nation with out a ruling minority.
Authorities in limbo
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is hanging on as caretaker head of presidency however the centrist Macron ally is now specializing in his personal future, taking cost of his lowered celebration in parliament.
READ: In France, your politics is what you put on
Different figures are mobilizing with an eye fixed on the 2027 presidential race, however there may be little signal of a ruling majority rising from parliament, break up between three unfastened camps.
With authorities in limbo and Macron barred by the structure from calling contemporary elections for 12 months, far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen is eyeing the 2027 race with relish.
In the meantime, first place within the elections was claimed by a quickly cobbled-together left-wing alliance, the New In style Entrance (NFP), which now has probably the most MPs however no clear candidate for PM.
Firebrand hardliner Jean-Luc Melenchon and his France Unbowed (LFI) celebration has alienated many even on the left, whereas the centre and proper say they might not welcome his MPs right into a coalition.
The European Union’s second largest economic system, a nuclear-armed G7 energy and everlasting member of the UN Safety Council, is thus rudderless, a troubling scenario for markets and France’s allies alike.
In opposition to this backdrop, the lowered and rerouted parade dangers turning into a brand new image of drift, even with the addition of the arrival in Paris of the Olympic Torch, forward of the July 26 to August 11 Video games.
Olympic relay
No tank or armored automobile will participate, and solely 4,000 foot troopers will march, down from 6,500 final yr, however the army fly-past will see 45 aeroplanes and 22 helicopters soar over Paris.
Regiments honoured on the parade will embrace these from France’s allies and former French colonies that took half within the nation’s 1944 World Struggle II liberation 80 years in the past.
The parade’s ultimate part may also honor the Olympic spirit.
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Colonel Thibault Vallette of the elite Cadre Noir de Saumur cavalry college and 2016 equestrian gold medallist in Rio will probably be bringing the torch down the route earlier than relay runners carry it across the capital.
