Emmanuel Macron opened the July 14 parade in a Rafale!

This Sunday, July 14th in the morning, the President of the Republic arrived at the Arc de Triomphe aboard a very presidential Renault Rafale.

Ignored in recent years by the Élysée, the diamond brand is making a grand military return to the forefront with its latest model, the Rafale. Should we see this as a way to compensate for the massive absence of military aviation flagships during this reduced-format July 14th parade? We don’t think so, but the symbolism is enticing as only two army fighters and five Dassault naval units flew over Paris this Sunday. The lower part of the Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde were requisitioned for the Olympic Games, so the parade was moved this year to Avenue Foch. Aside from the absence of motorized ground forces, the aerial parade had to be drastically reduced. But let’s get back to Renault!

Rafale under the gold of the Republic

In 1920, the Presidency of the Republic used a vehicle from the diamond brand for the first time, a proud Renault 40 CV. Used by Paul Deschanel, Alexandre Millerand, and Gaston Doumergue until 1928, this car marked the beginning of a long and beautiful presidential automotive tradition. No less than 12 Presidents of the Republic have chosen Renault, but in recent years DS, Citroën, and of course Peugeot have claimed the lion’s share. The last official Renault of the presidency was a Renault Espace in 2016.

The Renault Rafale used this Sunday is a unique creation. The vehicle of the Head of State has undergone evident security modifications, although no information has been provided regarding possible armor. It features a body color of Bleu de France, a grille adorned with an elegant tricolor band, flag poles, and blue, white, and red badges on the doors. To look nice in photos, the car has received a set of specific 20-inch wheels. So, is a special “presidential Rafale” edition coming soon? Who knows…

ALSO READ: Adultery and croissants, François Hollande’s scooter for sale