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Macron Booed By Protesters in Front of World Leaders at Bastille Day Celebrations

© REUTERS / Stephane MaheFrench President Emmanuel Macron and Chief of the Defence Staff French Army General Pierre de Villiers arrive in a command car for the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, July 14, 2017.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Chief of the Defence Staff French Army General Pierre de Villiers arrive in a command car for the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, July 14, 2017. - Sputnik International
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Due to the country-wide sentiment surrounding Bastille day, it is unusual for protesters to show up at the national ceremonies, especially in light of Macron's approval rating improving in recent weeks and decreasing turn-outs at Yellow Vest protests.

French President Emmanuel Macron was met with a less than courteous reception at the Bastille Day parade in Paris on Sunday.

As Macron arrived, driving down the Champs-Elysées in Paris to officially open the military parade which occurs annually to mark France’s national day, protesters loudly booed and heckled the president from the sidewalk.

Calls of "Macron resign!" could be heard as the presidential car drove past.

By and large the parade proceeded untarnished, as Macron used the day as a pulpit to demonstrate European military cooperation, surrounded by troops from many EU countries which make up the Paris-based European Intervention Initiative.

Macron hosted a lunch following the parade with other EU leaders such as Germany's Angela Merkel, Belgium's Charles Michel, the Netherlands’ Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. With the UK being represented by David Lidington, deputy to Prime Minister Theresa May.

Parallel to the lunch however, saw an enflaming of protests and demonstrations which saw violent clashes with French police. The police launched tear gas towards crowds as they chanted anti-government and anti-Macron slogans.

The protesters were not dressed in yellow vests as anyone adorned with the garment was refused entry.

152 people were arrested prior to the event however, according to AFP.

Twitter saw varied reactions from users.

Some expressed "solidarity" with the protestors. 

Critics of Macron laughed and called the president “pompous and arrogant”.

Some even compared Macron to King Louise XVI.

​Others referenced recent criticisms of President Trump’s decision to add tanks to his own military parade, accusing the critics of having double standards.

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