The parliament in Paris approved the corresponding plans of President Emmanuel Macron on Monday night. For example, employees in hospitals and nursing homes are affected. Despite national protests, MPs also approved the tightening of other rules. This means that negative tests, vaccinations or diseases that have been overcome must be proven more frequently in the future.
Violent protests against compulsory vaccination on weekends
The changes are controversial. In view of the criticism, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that he would have them examined by the Constitutional Council. The Conseil Constitutionnel wants to comment on August 5th on what could upset the planned schedule. The government originally planned that the so-called “pass sanitaire” – i.e. proof of a negative test, vaccinations or recovery – would also be required for long-distance trains, bars or restaurants from August.
At the weekend, according to the Interior Ministry, more than 160,000 people across the country demonstrated against the mandatory vaccination and the expansion of the obligation to provide evidence. There were also riots. There were numerous arrests. The weekend before, more than 100,000 people took to the streets.
Compulsory vaccination by parliament revoked
Macron again appealed to the population to get vaccinated. During a visit to French Polynesia at the weekend, he warned: “What is your freedom worth if you tell me: ‘I don’t want to be vaccinated’? If you infect your father or mother or me tomorrow, I will be the victim of your freedom . Because you had the opportunity to protect yourself and me. This is called irresponsibility or selfishness. “
The compulsory vaccination for people in the health care system and in contact with risk groups has been somewhat weakened by parliament. Anyone who does not have a vaccination by mid-September cannot be terminated. Instead, there is a threat of a suspension of the salary. The country with a population of 67 million is currently fighting a fourth corona wave. The number of new infections has risen sharply since the end of June. Most recently it was 166 per 100,000 people within a week.
