Which office holder traditionally attends the Bastille Day parade?

The President of France traditionally attends and presides over the Bastille Day parade.

In constitutional terms, this is the President of the French Republic, the country’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president typically arrives for the ceremony, reviews the troops and watches the procession from the official stand at Place de la Concorde. Government ministers, military leaders, elected representatives and foreign dignitaries may also attend.

The prime minister can be present, but does not hold the parade’s central ceremonial role. France has not had a king since the monarchy was abolished and restored periods ended in the 19th century, so “King of France” is not a modern answer. The mayor of Paris may attend as an important civic official, but the national ceremony is traditionally centered on the president.