Hollande attends last Bastille Day parade of his term

Paris, July 14: French President Francois Hollande, who will be eligible to run for a second presidential term in the 2017 general elections, on Thursday attended his fil Bastille Day parade during his current tenure as Head of State. The military parade took place along the Champs Elysee avenue in Paris and featured 3,239 French soldiers, 236 horses, 36 dogs, 55 military planes and 30 helicopters. The Australian and the New Zealand military took part in the parade. Also displayed was the US aerial refuelling aircraft, the Boeing KC-13J Stratotanker, Efe news reported. The parade started with a military flyover led by eight Alphajet fighters in the formation of the Eiffel Tower, in support of Paris’ bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, along with Australian Governor-General, Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key were also present. The day commemorates the French Revolution in 1789 that overthrew the morchy and gave birth to the modern Republic. (IANS)