July 14: the parade replaced by a military ceremony with tribute to caregivers

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The traditional military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris for the French national holiday will be replaced this year by a ceremony at Place de la Concorde to comply with health requirements, the presidency announced on Thursday.

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To adapt the celebration of July 14 to health requirements, the traditional parade on the Champs-Élysées will be replaced by a military ceremony on Place de la Concorde, which will also pay tribute to caregivers, announced the Élysée on Thursday, June 4.

The ceremony will include "  a tight device reduced to 2,000 participants and approximately 2,500 guests  ", in compliance with the rules of social distancing, said the presidency.

“  The ceremony, which will include an air parade, will honor the participation of our armies in the fight against the Covid-19, through Operation Resilience; it will also pay tribute to the nursing staff that the French applauded each evening during the confinement period, as well as to all the actors mobilized against the virus,  ”said the Elysée.

There are currently no plans to open the event to the general public, but "  the situation could be reassessed by July 14  " if the health situation is better, explains the Elysée.

Calls to recognize caregivers' work

On May 13 in the Council of Ministers, Emmanuel Macron wished "  that the national holiday be an additional occasion to express the tribute and recognition of the nation to all those who are engaged in the fight against Covid-19  ", according to government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye.

A request that had already made elected LREM and LR in April when they pleaded for the presence of a "  caregivers square  " but also representatives of "  everyday heroes  " during the annual military parade.

Damien Adam, LREM deputy for Seine-Maritime and Catherine Dumas, senator LR from Paris had sent a letter to Emmanuel Macron, asking him, "  if the sanitary conditions allow it  " that healthcare workers and all should be associated  with the next national holiday our everyday heroes (traders, transport drivers, garbage collectors, teachers).  "

(With agencies)

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