Latest Appearances of the French President
The new presidential election and the names of the candidates have occupied the minds of the French public for months. The new French president will be elected in the first round on April 18, 2027, and in the second round on May 2, 2027.
Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron cannot run again, as he has already completed two presidential terms, having been first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Article 6 of the French Constitution stipulates that the presidential term lasts five years and is limited to two consecutive terms. However, there is nothing preventing him from running again for a new term in 2032, after the term of the president elected in 2027 concludes.
We can identify some of the tasks and activities President Macron carried out for the last time, attempting to understand their implications. I will begin with the military parade that France traditionally holds annually on July 14, a date symbolizing the founding of the French Republic on July 14, 1789, and July 14, 1790. This year’s parade, which lasted more than three hours, was distinguished by its grandeur. It featured 6,800 soldiers marching on foot, along with a 30% increase in the number of aircraft and military vehicles participating. Notably, all military vehicles were painted brown for the first time, a color viewed as representing “the land of France.” The theme of this year’s military parade was “Europe’s Strategic Wakefulness,” a concept that can be understood in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the United States’ attempts to reduce its military commitments within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The concept behind this strategy was reflected in the participation of 500 soldiers from Australia, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom in the military parade.
For the last time as French President, Macron chaired the meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), which took place from June 15 to 17 in Evian, France. The US President attended this meeting alongside the heads of state and government of the G7 countries (Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and the United States), as well as the leaders of several other countries, including Brazil, Egypt, South Korea, Kenya, and India.
Another point that should not be overlooked is the French President’s success in passing his government’s bill on “assisted dying.” The French National Assembly voted on July 15, 2026, to adopt this law, which was among the measures the French President was keen to enact before the end of his term. This law was previously mentioned in the pages of this newspaper.
Finally, I would like to mention the important visit made by the French President to Damascus on July 6 and 7, 2026, and his meeting with the Syrian President. This was the second visit by a European head of state to Syria, following the visit by the Ukrainian President on April 5, 2026. The French President’s visit resulted in the signing of a framework agreement for comprehensive cooperation, which could enhance Syria’s stability and its efforts to regain its Arab and international standing.
The final activities undertaken by a high-ranking political figure remain etched in memory and are recalled as indicators of success or failure in their official duties, forming part of the historical records and biographies.
