French officials said about 105,000 protesters had appeared on the streets across the country in opposition to a bill that essentially banned the public life of unvaccinated people.
Protesters have indicated in response to a recent comment by French President Emmanuel Macron about people not vaccinated with COVID-19: And we will continue to do so until the end. That is the strategy. “
Macron, speaking with Le Parisien, said his government intends to make the lives of unvaccinated individuals as difficult as possible by tightening restrictions on civil liberties. Recently, the Omicron COVID-19 mutant has spread rapidly around the world, including Europe, and data suggest that it can easily infect fully vaccinated individuals.
Many French demonstrators on Saturday chanted a variation of Macron’s vulgar remarks.
Others had a “no to vaccine pass” sign, which is a reference to Macron’s legislative push requiring proof of vaccination to enter venues such as cafes, bars and museums.
Television images showed a skirmish between protesters and police at one location. Protesters also ran through the streets of Marseille, Nantes and Le Mans, among other cities.
“”[Macron’s remarks] It was the last straw. We are not irresponsible, “said Virginie Houget, a hospital administrator who evaded the requirement for vaccines to healthcare professionals because he was infected with COVID-19 at the end of last year. Studies show that previous COVID-19 infections provide protection against future infections, but are rarely mentioned by public health authorities promoting vaccination instead.
Three months before the presidential election, some analysts pointed out that Macron’s dull words appear to be calculated and designed to gain support among voters who support vaccination. ..
Protesters have accused Macron of trampling on their freedom and treating their citizens unequally. French people must already show either proof of vaccination or a negative test in order to enter restaurants and bars and use interregional trains.
“I want him to offend drug dealers and criminals, not ordinary people,” said a 55-year-old protester who demanded anonymity for his business.
Despite the surge in Omicron infections, the government wants to abolish testing options. France is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, with over 90% of people over the age of 12 being fully vaccinated.
In a protest on Saturday, right-wing presidential candidate Florian Philippot said, “All vaccinated people are future non-vaccinated people” because of the increasingly adopted booster shot obligations around the world. Said. “All the French are at the bohemian madness crosshairs of the madman Macron,” he added.
German police told the press that about 16,000 people had been taken to the streets of Hamburg to protest the German government’s increasingly stringent COVID-19 restrictions. Germany is considering imposing a general COVID-19 vaccine obligation on all eligible people, including children.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Jack Phillips is the latest news reporter for The Epoch Times, based in New York.