France Protests "Health Pass"

By Al Mayadeen
Source: Agencies
14 Aug 2021 19:56

Nationwide demonstrations push back against Macron's latest COVID-19 restrictions - the health pass - which obliges people to present their vaccination status at public venues, including bars and restaurants.

Protests in France against new COVID restrictions

Nationwide protests shake France as demonstrators yell "Freedom, freedom!" from the 'clutches of COVID restrictions.'

What could be France's biggest (most recent) demonstration yet expresses an angry stance against President Emmanuel Macron's most recent legislation to implement the "Health Pass," which obliges citizens to show their vaccination status upon entering public places, including bars and restaurants.

After a week of looser COVID restrictions, demonstrators go as far as to call the health pass "apartheid," waving posters with "Pass=Apartheid" written on them. This comes after a governmental decision to tighten policies, including charging for COVID tests unless prescribed by a doctor as of October.

Reportedly, there are over 200 rallies across the country in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier, and other towns.

The demonstrations, according to authorities, could reach up to 250,000 participants. Previously, they've managed to muster approximately 114,000 protesters on July 17 - however, that number more than doubled on August 7, reaching about 237,000. They were mainly organized by Les Patriotes (French for 'The Patriots') and some Yellow Vesters, which had challenged Macron's liberalization policies back in 2018.

Despite the protests, a recent survey shows that an overwhelming majority of France (70%) are in support of vaccine passports. Furthermore, almost 70% of French citizens have received their first jab of the vaccine, whereas about 57.5% are fully vaccinated.