Emmanuel Macron: "I will miss you, too"!
The presidential couple attended the 82nd liberation ceremony of Bormes-les-Mimosas, marked by emotion and loyalty.
August 17 in Bormes-les-Mimosas is not just any other date. It is a day dedicated to the memory of those who, 82 years ago, liberated the municipality and Provence.
The ceremony, enhanced by the presence of the presidential couple for the ninth consecutive year, took on a particularly solemn and human dimension, reminding us that freedom is never definitively acquired.
Memory and loyalty
The commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Provence Landings gathered numerous personalities around the mayor, François Arizzi. In the presence of Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, whose attendance has become a ritual, the event highlighted the importance of transmission.
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The host Stéphane Bern, visibly moved, was also present, just a few weeks after Bormes-les-Mimosas was crowned "Village Préféré des Français 2026".
Numerous civil and military authorities made the trip, including Alice Rufo, minister, Simon Babre, préfet du Var, Ian Selecki, ambassador of Argentina to France, Yannick Chenevard, député du Var, Laurent Hermann, maritime prefect of the Mediterranean, as well as several mayors and local elected officials such as Bertrand Carletti for Le Lavandou and Christine Amrane for Collobrières. All were gathered to honor the sacrifice of the fighters from France, Africa, and allied nations.
The recent context of the fires that hit Var hard added a note of gravity and solidarity to the ceremony. The presence of several mayors from the affected municipalities transformed this moment of remembrance into a powerful message of mutual support. A tribute was paid to the firefighters and all the forces mobilized.
The president of the Republic praised their exceptional courage, while François Arizzi recalled that Bormes-les-Mimosas had itself suffered terrible fires in 2017, expressing his municipality's solidarity with those currently affected.
"Bonds that have gone beyond the simple framework of our duties"
Beyond protocol, it was the human dimension that marked the speeches. After nine years of meetings, a strong relationship has developed between the mayor and the presidential couple. François Arizzi wished, with emotion, "not to speak of politics but of humanity".
"These bonds, which have gone beyond the simple framework of our duties," he confided, thanking Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron for their "unfailing presence by our side".
A reciprocal feeling, expressed by the president of the Republic who spoke of these nine years as "an era", made of memories and faces that have become familiar. It was with palpable emotion that he concluded his speech.
"I will miss you, too. However, know one thing, we will never be far away," he concluded.
Article from the paper edition of La Gazette du Var