Removal of May 8 as a public holiday: "I will convey the concerns of the combatant world to the Prime Minister," assures Patricia Mirallès

How, after the "splendour" of the 80th anniversary of the landing in Provence and the Liberation, do we return to normal life a year later?

The Liberation Mission set up for the 80th anniversary commemorations brought new things. We have since conducted a survey to find out how last year's commemorations were experienced, and we can only be pleased; young people want us to continue. These young people, who love French history and want to be active participants in the commemorations, particularly appreciated the popular festivals organized around the 80th anniversary of the landings in Provence and the Liberation. Celebrations that brought together residents and tourists. Just because the 80th anniversary has passed doesn't mean we should stop. This is why I will be in the Var region again this Friday, August 15, to commemorate the landings.

The number of World War II veterans is steadily declining year after year. What are you working on to continue passing on the memory of World War II to future generations?

We collected a huge amount of living testimonies. We also recovered numerous archives that will allow historians to write about certain aspects of the history of the Second World War that are still relatively little covered. In terms of transmission to new generations, young people today know, through images from Ukraine for example, what war is. What they want to be more interested in history is living history. We must therefore adapt to their way of learning, by using podcasts for example. I also encourage teachers to go with their students to the war memorials in their communities. It is there, by reading the name of each person who died for France, that we realize that we did not fight alone! The Senegalese riflemen, the Moroccan goumiers, the Indochinese riflemen, the African army... Despite their different origins and religions, they united, fought under a single flag to make us free.

Are you already thinking about using artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence is a tool that will undoubtedly be needed, but it will require a lot of monitoring and vigilance at the start to avoid mistakes. In the same vein, we're working with influencers on YouTube to ensure their content is accurate. We're not reinventing history.

You may be asked by representatives of patriotic associations about the abolition of May 8 as a public holiday. What will you say to them?

For now, this is only a proposal. The Prime Minister, open to discussion, said he would discuss these dates with the social partners. For my part, as Minister Delegate for Remembrance and Veterans, I am very attached to this date. I therefore have a duty to convey to the Prime Minister the concerns of the combatant world. That being said, I would like to remind you that a public holiday does not mean a vacation day. May 8, which marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, is a day to commemorate, inscribed in our hearts, but also celebrated beyond France.

If this deletion were to be confirmed, it would still be a strange message sent to the fighting world.

I repeat: at this stage, this is only a proposal. But as an ambassador for veterans, I will alert the Prime Minister.

Wouldn't November 11, which marks the end of the First World War, a more distant conflict, have been preferable?

I haven't had any feedback from the fighting world in this regard.

This Friday morning, you will be at the Boulouris National Cemetery, the very place where Emmanuel Macron, for the 75th anniversary of the Provence landings, invited the mayors of France to name streets, squares, or schools in their communities after overseas combatants. Do we know to what extent this call was heeded?

On the question of the names we give to streets, squares, or even gymnasiums... We clearly need to open up a little. Elected officials, but also teachers, regularly ask us for the names of combatants who could be honored. Thematic booklets on teachers who fought, or athletes who participated in the two world wars are also available to them. During the Paris Olympic Games, physical education teachers managed to attract students to history by evoking the athletes who had fought. But here again, using new names to name a street is not enough. If we want to reach young people, to transmit History to them, we must again use the tools they use every day. Why not add a QR code to street signs?