France celebrates national day as political crisis rumbles on

France celebrated military victories of the past at its annual Bastille Day parade on July 14, while its present political future appeared far from clear.

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President Emmanuel Macron inspected French and allied units which took part in France's World War II liberation 80 years ago.

And Paris welcomed the Olympic flame to the city, less than two weeks before it hosts the Summer Games.

But behind the pomp - itself in a reduced format while Olympic preparations blocked the traditional Champs-Elysees route France's tense search for a government appeared to be at a stalemate.

All eyes were on Mr Macron, who in 2023 cut a more impressive figure, hosting rising superpower India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they watched France's military might roll down the ChampsElysees.

There was no international star guest in 2024, and there were no armoured vehicles as a reduced number of troops marched down the less majestic Avenue Foch.