The protest came only days after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to “piss off” those refusing the jab.
The turnout was four times higher than the numbers who answered the December 18 call to protest, when 25,500 people marched across the country, according to government estimates.
The protests oppose a planned law that will require individuals to prove they are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus before they can eat out, travel on inter-city trains or attend cultural events.
On Thursday, France’s lower house of parliament passed the controversial bill in a first reading. The government has said it expects the new requirements to be implemented by January 15, although lawmakers in the Senate could now delay the process.
Interior ministry officials said 105,200 people participated in Saturday’s protests across France, 18,000 of them in the capital Paris, where police reported 10 arrests and three officers slightly injured. Elsewhere there were 24 arrests and seven police officers lightly injured according to the ministry.
Among the larger demonstrations, around 6,000 demonstrators turned out in Toulon, while in Montpellier police used teargas during clashes with protesters.
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France recorded 303,669 new coronavirus cases on Saturday amid mounting pressure on hospitals.
The Paris protesters, many of them unmasked, braved the cold and rain brandishing placards emblazoned with the word “truth” and “No to vaccine passes”.
Others took aim at Macron, using the same coarse language he employed in his attack on people holding out against vaccination earlier in the week.
Macron said Friday that he fully stands by controversial remarks he made on Tuesday, when he vowed to “piss off” people not vaccinated against Covid-19 until they accept shots.
The earthy language and uncompromising approach provoked uproar in French media and from opponents.
The Macron obsession with vaccinations has now reached ludicrous levels. Last Sunday the ministry of health gave written instruction that vaccinated but Covid infected healthcare workers can carry on working in French hospitals. So, now we have the crazy situation where unvaccinated , uninfected healthcare workers are suspended whilst vaccinated, infected workers carry on working. Is this nuts or what ?
Well, for starters – that’s just not true.
Look it up . It’s not difficult.
If you are spreading bs, then it’s on you to prove yourself.
Try looking up LBC and The Independent and a host of others . Hard to believe it’s not circulating in the French media. The only restrictions quoted by the ministry, is that their symptoms should not be too severe and they should minimise contact with co-workers and patients.
I read French media regarding French matters – you should try it. Most of the British ones tend to carer to the British anti-French mentality and present a very twisted picture of reality.
I did find related information on franceinfo – however, unsurprisingly, it is not what you painted it to be. It is a part of emergency plans for Omicron wave adopted by the French government, where such staff might be allowed to work if:
– huge numbers of healthcare workers (in the region of 50%) are off work because of COVID
– and only in specific locations
As of now, this haven’t happened yet.
According to AP it’s rolling out this week. BTW , first time I’ve heard that The Independent is ‘anti-French’. Seems you have a bad case of ‘shoot the messenger’.
The regulation is “rolling out” – not the actual use of sick workers. That would happen (or not) when it is needed.
The regulation being rolled out next week is an exemption to self-isolation requirements for healthcare workers . It will not be employed uniformly but will empower individual hospitals to make the decision for themselves. The 50% of staff absent you quoted is the criteria that Marseilles hospital will use. Why the Government prefers to retain vaccinated, Covid infected staff whilst suspending unvaccinated, uninfected staff will no doubt remain a mystery.
Keep your nose out of French affairs that are designed to protect French citizens. If you are not prepared to abide by your host country’s rules, go back to your plaque island. Try reading some decent French papers for a change, you might learn something to your advantage. Hang on though, they are in French.
Unless, Boggy, French citizens are anatomically different from everyone else, explain how this instruction /exemption is protective of their health. You seem, however, to be intellectually incapable of addressing the issue in any of your posts so why do you bother ? Were you a bit ‘slow’ at school ?
Why are you so rude?
You obviously don’t like the French government helping their citizens, perhaps you’d be happier as the previous poster mentioned returning to your preferred home country.
I would love it, Harley, if the French Govt were to help their citizens. So would millions of French citizens. Like Boggy, of course, you confuse Government with country. You might have left all your critical faculties at Dover but that’s not the case , fortunately, for most. As for being rude, I think if you look at the posts in the order they were posted you’ll find that ‘being rude’ is not only Boggy’s default position but his only reason for posting.
I think you are confusing country and governments roles in protecting their citizens, and looking at your other posts, rude is most definitely your raison d’être.
Do not bother to reply, I really am not interested in your “British” opinion, people like yourself was one of the many reasons I left to find a much better place to live.
Governments come and go. If you support them blindly, you’ll end up going dizzy from all the somersaulting. By the way , my posting on the Govt exemption to allow Covid infected doctors and nurses to carry on working was not a ‘British’ opinion, just an opinion. You and boggy should try engaging with the subject or don’t bother posting.
Unfortunately Harley, there are an awefull lot of them over here. Martinique, here I come.😁
Read more intelligent journals than this blog and the Daily Mail and you never know even you might learn something But one doubts it.
Completely nuts… he’s lost the plot.
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I don’t suspect monsieur Macron is too bothered about 100,000 anti vaxers, they are your usual antiestablishment nutters, they probably wouldn’t vote for him anyway.
I suspect the majority of the French people are happy that action is finally being taken against the selfish minority l know I certainly am.