Prez sparks backlash by berating unvaccinated
PARIS/WARSAW: French President Emmanuel Macron took Europe’s aggressive stance against the unvaccinated up a notch, saying he wants to “piss off” people who don’t get their Covid-19 shot.
“We will continue to do this, to the end. This is the strategy,” he said in an interview. He added that means “limiting as much as possible their access to activities in social life”.
The comments sparked an angry response from opposition politicians in France, and led to parliament suspending a debate on new virus restrictions. Some lawmakers are demanding that PM Jean Castex shows up to explain the remarks.
The verb used by Macron in the interview- “emmerder” in French - is informal slang commonly used to insult people. It can also mean to hassle, or annoy.
French politicians expressed dismay at Macron’s comments. Valerie Pecresse, presidential candidate for Conservative Party The Republicans, said on CNews she was “outraged by his comments” and that “insults are never a good solution”.
As for the non-vaccinated, I really want to piss them off. EMMANUEL MACRON, French President
Poland’s president tests Covid+ for second time Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for Covid-19 but has no serious symptoms, an aide said on Wednesday. The aide, Pawel Szrot, said on Twitter that Duda was under medical observation but feels well.
Duda, 49, has been vaccinated against the coronavirus and received a booster shot last month, Szrot said. He previously tested positive in October 2020.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong authorities announced a twoweek ban on flights from the US and seven other countries and held 2,500 passengers on a cruise ship for testing on Wednesday as the city attempted to stem an emerging Omicron outbreak. The two-week ban on passenger flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the US will take effect on Sunday and continue until January 21.
The Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas ship was ordered to return after nine passengers were identified as close contacts of an infected patient who was linked to a new Omicron cluster.