Protests, parades and problems: What's going on on the French national holiday?

Protests, parades and problems: What's going on on the French national holiday?

France celebrates the national holiday between festivity and violence

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité: These are the words with which France celebrates its national holiday. But this year there is a shadow over the celebrations. After the violent riots of the past few weeks, there is a fear that violence could break again.

Traditionally, fireworks are part of the highlight of the celebrations on July 14th. But after the death of the 17-year-old Nahel at the end of June, fireworks flew not only to the sky, but also to police forces and public buildings. In view of these incidents, some mayors decided to cancel the celebrations for security reasons.

This decision is incomprehensible to Marine Le Pen, the leader of the extreme right -wing racial leader nationally. She criticizes that some municipalities would have lost confidence in the state and would cancel the national holiday for fear of outbreaks.

The French government wants to counter the fear of violence and has already banned the sale of fireworks to private individuals. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also announced that 130,000 police forces will be deployed to prevent violence in urban areas

The political pressure to act hard against the riots comes not only from right -wing parties such as the racial emile nationally, but also from the conservative Les Républicains. These require, among other things, to tighten youth criminal law and see a connection between the riots and immigration.

The conservative tries to fill the political space between the government and the racial emblem nationally and to move the public discourse further to the right.

President Emmanuel Macron commented on the riots on the edge of the NATO summit and emphasized that events were neither a social nor a security policy problem. He announced that he will find the best possible answer to the situation in the coming weeks and months. However, he will not express his opinion on the national holiday, but is expected to be in the coming days.

It remains to be seen how France will deal with the current situation and whether it will be possible to celebrate the national holiday in an atmosphere of freedom, equality and fraternity.