French President Emmanuel Macron led the traditional ceremony on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, commemorating the day that marked the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
French President Emmanuel Macron led the traditional ceremony on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Monday, commemorating the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
Macron laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe memorial, flanked by Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne. A brass band played the Marseilles.
To limit unrest amid continued opposition to Macron and his disputed pension reforms, police banned gatherings around the party district in the French capital, and in Lyon where the president traveled later in the day.
In Lyon, several streets were closed to traffic, some parking lots were banned and public transport was disrupted.
The authorities are vigilant to ensure that “casserole” or the loud banging of pots and pans in protest does not distract from the memorial ceremony.
And in Lyon, Macron pushed the French Resistance and one of its leaders, Jean Moulin. Macron visited Montluc Prison, where Moulins was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo.
Trade unions have called for protests in some authorized areas of Lyon, where the sound of pots and pans reverberates despite police restrictions. The authorities dispersed the most ferocious elements of the protest with tear gas.
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