Macron’s words may have backfired after huge crowds took to the streets of France promising to piss him off instead
At least 100,000 people took to the streets of France in protest against Covid-19 restrictions and mandates, after President Macron promised to make the lives of the unvaccinated increasingly hard until they accept the jab.
The huge crowds on Saturday were roughly four times larger than back on December 18, according to police estimates. The protesters opposed, among other things, a nearly implemented government plan to make proof of vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory to use public transport, eat at restaurants, and attend events.
France’s National Assembly passed a bill this week which, if approved by the Senate, would introduce so-called ‘vaccine passes’ to replace the existing ‘health passes’. Under the current rules, a negative PCR or antigen test gives access to a pass which is valid for 24 hours. A vaccine pass, however, would only be issued to those who have recently recovered or been fully vaccinated against Covid.
Même si Macron veut les emmerder, des manifestants anti-vax défilent à Paris.
Un cortège #GiletsJaunes ici, et des partisans de @f_philippot ailleurs dans la capitale protestent contre le #PassVaccinal. pic.twitter.com/Obnywhn7BS
— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) January 8, 2022