This archive report was first published on 5 January 2022.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to restrict the freedoms of unvaccinated citizens, citing a need to control the spread of COVID-19. In an interview published on January 4, 2022, Macron stated that from January 15, unvaccinated individuals would no longer be able to access restaurants, cafes, theaters, or cinemas.
Macron's language, which included the use of slang to describe hassling or annoying the unvaccinated, has been widely criticized by opposition politicians. Bruno Retailleau, Senate leader of the right-wing Republicans, condemned Macron's remarks, saying, 'No health emergency justifies such words.'
Far-right leader Marine le Pen also weighed in, tweeting that Macron's comments were 'unworthy of his office.' Meanwhile, leftist politician Jean-Luc Melenchon described the remarks as an 'astonishing confession,' adding that the vaccination pass was a 'collective punishment against individual freedom.'
France has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the EU, with over 90% of the adult population double-jabbed. However, the country has seen a surge in infections driven by the Omicron and Delta variants, prompting the government to consider stricter measures.
