Macron triggers backlash with warning to un-jabbed
President Emmanuel Macron yesterday faced anger from opponents and chaos in parliament after issuing a provocative warning to people in France not yet vaccinated against Covid-19 that he would pressure them as much as possible by limiting access to key aspects of life.
Opponents including rivals in the 2022 presidential elections accused Mr Macron of overstepping the line with the language of his comments, while the furore they caused prompted a new delay in the passing of legislation aimed at tightening France’s Covid rules.
“As for the non-vaccinated, I really want to hassle them,” he told the Le Parisien newspaper in an interview, using the French emmerder, a word considered in France as vulgar slang derived from the word merde which means “sh*t”.
“And we will continue to do this, to the end. This is the strategy,” he said.
He added this would mean “limiting as much as possible their access to activities in social life”.
Mr Macron’s comments came as the government seeks to push through parliament legislation that will make vaccination compulsory to enjoy cultural activities, use inter-city train travel or visit a cafe from Jan 15.
No longer will it be possible to have a recent test or a recovery to qualify for the country’s Covid pass.
But the government was incensed when the opposition joined forces on Monday to hold up the passage of the legislation through parliament. After talks between the sides on Tuesday, debate resumed late in the day. However consideration of the bill was halted again after Mr Macron’s remarks.