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More than 100,000 protest Macron's plan to 'piss off the unvaccinated'

AFP
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More than 100,000 protest Macron's plan to 'piss off the unvaccinated'
Demonstrators hold a banner reading " The youth piss off the vaccine front " during a protest against the health pass on Saturday. Photo: Christophe Archambault/AFP

More than 100,000 people across France protested on Saturday over what they say are government plans to further restrict the rights of the unvaccinated.

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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.

About 18,000 protesters gathered in Paris. Photo: Christophe Archambault/AFP

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.

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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.

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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.

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Anonymous 2022/01/09 18:37
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.
Anonymous 2022/01/09 10:56
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 ?
  • Anonymous 2022/01/12 11:06
    Hi all. Thanks for commenting on stories on The Local. It's good to read the views of readers, but some of the comments descend into personal abuse which we cannot accept. When commenting please stick to the subject and make your point without resorting to personal attacks. We will be forced to close the comment section if readers cannot be civil to each other and ban them from commenting. Thanks. Ben McPartland (managing editor)
  • Anonymous 2022/01/09 14:14
    Completely nuts... he's lost the plot.
  • thelocal_462458 2022/01/09 14:13
    Well, for starters - that's just not true.

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