Layli Toudi

PARIS (Reuters), – On Saturday anti-vaccine protesters marched across France, decrying President Emmanuel Macron’s intention to “piss off” people who refuse COVID-19 shots through tightening restrictions on civil liberties.

Macron stated this week that he wants to make unvaccinated people’s lives more complicated so they end up being jabbed. Macron said unvaccinated persons were irresponsible, and therefore not eligible to be considered citizens.

Parisian protestors responded by using his tongue-in-cheek language and chanting: “We’ll piss You off!”

Other signs read “No to vaccine pass”, in reference to Macron’s push for requiring proof of vaccination before they can enter cafes, bars, and museums.

TV footage showed police and protestors engaging in skirmishes at one place. Protesters rallied on the streets of Marseille, Nantes, Le Mans and other cities.

“(Macron’s remarks) were just the tipping point.” Virginie Houget (hospital administrator) said that they aren’t irresponsible. She avoided the mandatory vaccination order for healthcare workers after she contracted COVID-19 in late 2013.

Macron is accused by protesters of trespassing and unfairly treating people. Macron claims freedoms come with responsibilities, including protecting others’ health.

France reported more than 300,000. This was the second consecutive week of coronavirus infected patients. The healthcare system is under pressure because of the steady rise in hospitalisations.

Some hospitals report that around 85% of ICU patient aren’t vaccinated for COVID-19. According to data, 90% of those over 12 who qualify for the COVID shot were fully vaccinated.

France requires that people in France show proof of their vaccinations or have a negative result to be allowed to use restaurants, bars, and interregional trains. Omicron-related infections are increasing rapidly and so the government has decided to eliminate the requirement for a test.

Macron spoke bluntly three months prior to the presidential election. This was a sign of growing frustration with unvaccinated people.

Valerie Pecresse, the Conservative challenger to Macron said Macron was creating a divide in the country. Eric Zemmour, a far-right candidate, denounced the president’s “puerile” remarks.

Demonstrators accused Macron, on the streets in the capital, of politicising pandemic before the election.

A 55-year-old protester, who asked to remain anonymous because he is a business owner, said that he wanted him to “piss off drug dealers & criminals” instead of the average citizen.