Riots in France: tens of thousands protest against corona measures

In France, around 200,000 people across the country took to the streets against the planned tightening of the corona measures. Riots broke out in Paris and several demonstrators were arrested.

“Macron – resignation!” At one of four demos in Paris alone. “No to the health dictatorship!” “No to the pass of shame!” “Don’t touch our children!” “President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Health are killing our freedoms!” All of these slogans are carried on cardboard signs across the country – a total of up to 200,000 people were on the streets.

Water cannons, tear gas and a few injured police officers are unfortunately the usual side effects. In Paris alone, 19 demonstrators were arrested and three police officers injured.

“I don’t understand why we have to wear masks outside in some places. I understand that the government wants to curb the pandemic. But somehow it has to work differently,” says one protester.

Health pass as an alternative to lockdown

The representative of the Center Party Modem, Bruno Fuchs, sees things like this: “The health pass offers freedom between vaccination and lockdown. Without it we have to go into lockdown. Look to Martinique or La Réunion!”

The French overseas territories have reintroduced stricter exit rules. The vaccination rate there is below average. So far, around 60 percent of people over the age of 12 in France have been vaccinated. However, the intensive care beds are again occupied by a fifth. For the most part by unvaccinated patients. The incidence value is already over 200 again.

Right-wing extremists on the side of the demonstrators

Julien Odoul from the leadership of the right-wing extremist party Rassemblement National defends the demonstrators on the news channel BFM TV: “These are honest French people who have doubts. And in a democracy, doubts are legitimate. They are also not all against vaccination. But they have questions too the vaccines, the health passport and the restricted freedoms, “he says.

He criticizes the government’s policy: “The government’s back and forth stirs up fears and anger. When the head of government first says – no health passport in the schools. And then the education minister comes a week later and says that the unvaccinated students will be excluded from classroom teaching if there is a positive case in their class. How are the French supposed to see that clearly? ”asks Odoul. And in the same breath criticized the Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot: “You mustn’t turn the demonstrators into caricatures. It is not possible for the Minister of Culture to describe them as a club of losers!”

The scolded woman, however, did not call the demonstrators that, but rather all politicians who instrumentalize the situation for their goals on the right like Florian Philippot or on the left like Jean-Luc Melenchon: “We see Mr. Philippot, who won 0.6 percent in the European elections Or Mr Melenchon, who is losing ground in the polls. So this is a kind of club of losers who want to bump into people’s worries, “Bachelot said literally.

Majority supports stricter measures

Because 62 percent of the French are for the health passport and even 69 percent for the vaccination of health workers. However, the author of a book about the French Republic, Jad Zahab, warns: “The politicians can no longer ignore what is happening. Even if the movement is not supported by a majority of French people. The demos remind us of the yellow vests movement. And the Forces can join together, “he says. The opponents of the health passport are heterogeneous. But right-wing extremists got involved. “It could all be risky after the holidays, especially since the election campaign starts before the presidential elections in April next year,” said Zahab.

The final decision will be made on August 9th

The Constitutional Council will discuss the new anti-corona law on Thursday. The measures should then take effect on August 9th. This includes proof of being vaccinated, recovered or tested negative for visiting bars, cafés, restaurants or even for journeys on the long-distance train.

This has been the case in cinemas, theaters and museums since July 21st. President Emmanuel Macron – on vacation at Fort Bregancon on the Mediterranean Sea – will have looked closely at how many of his compatriots demonstrated this weekend. At the turn of the month, however, many were stuck in around 1,100 kilometers of traffic jams – on this weekend of the traditional “bed change” in the holiday accommodations.