Francois Hollande to be Chief Guest at 2016 Republic Day celebrations Francois Hollande to be Chief Guest at 2016 Republic Day celebrations

French President Francois Hollande will likely to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade of January 26, 2016.

• The visit of Mr. Hollande to New Delhi for the mega pageant of January 26 will be symbolic and send a message of a worldwide solidarity among the democratic countries against terrorism of the IS which staged the November 13 attacks in Paris.

France is going to host the COP 21, Paris Climate Conference, summit in Parisstarting from November 30. This year’s Republic Day Parade saw US President Barack Obama as the chief guest.

• Hollande will be the third French president in India on Republic day in 2016. Earlier French Presidents Chirac came in 1998 and Nicolas Sarkozy was in 2008.