French President Jacques Chirac escapes an assassination attempt unscathed during Bastille Day celebrations.
Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called Fte nationale franaise (French: [ft nasjnal]; "French National Celebration"), and legally le 14 juillet (French: [l katz() ij]; "the 14th of July").The French National Day is the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a major event of the French Revolution, as well as the Fte de la Fdration that celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. Celebrations are held throughout France. One that has been reported as "the oldest and largest military parade in Europe" is held on 14 July on the Champs-lyses in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, along with other French officials and foreign guests.
The president of France, officially the President of the French Republic (French: Président de la République française), is the head of state of France, head of the executive, as well as the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the officeholder is the holder of the highest office in France. The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, in addition to their relation with the prime minister and Government of France, have over time differed with the various constitutional documents since the Second Republic. The president of the French Republic is the ex officio co-prince of Andorra, grand master of the Legion of Honour and of the National Order of Merit. The officeholder is also honorary proto-canon of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, although some have rejected the title in the past. The current president of the French Republic is Emmanuel Macron, who succeeded François Hollande on 14 May 2017.