This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59873833

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Covid: President Macron warns he will 'hassle' France's unvaccinated Covid: French uproar as Macron vows to 'piss off' unvaccinated
(about 2 hours later)
Mr Macron says he wants to limit "as much as possible" access to activities for the unvaccinatedMr Macron says he wants to limit "as much as possible" access to activities for the unvaccinated
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned he intends to make life difficult for people in France who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. French President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of using divisive, vulgar language after he used a slang term to say he wanted to make life difficult for unvaccinated people.
"I really want to hassle them, and we will continue to do this - to the end," he told France's Le Parisien newspaper. "I really want to piss them off, and we'll carry on doing this - to the end," he told Le Parisien newspaper.
But political opponents said the strong language he used in the interview was not worthy of a president. Three months ahead of a presidential election, opponents of Mr Macron said his words were unworthy of a president.
His comments prompted MPs to suspend debate on a law barring the unvaccinated from much of public life. MPs halted debate on a law barring the unvaccinated from much of public life.
The session in the National Assembly was halted for a second night running as opposition delegates complained about the president's language, with one leading figure describing it as "unworthy, irresponsible and premeditated". The session in the National Assembly was brought to a standstill for a second night running on Tuesday as opposition delegates complained about the president's language, with one leading figure describing it as "unworthy, irresponsible and premeditated".
The legislation was expected to be approved in a vote this week, but it has angered vaccine opponents and several French MPs have said they have received death threats over the issue. The legislation is expected to be approved in a vote this week, but it has angered vaccine opponents and several French MPs have said they have received death threats over the issue.
Mandatory vaccinations are being introduced in several European countries, with Austria leading the way for over-14s from next month and Germany planning a similar move for adults. Mandatory vaccinations are being introduced in several European countries, with Austria leading the way for over-14s from next month and Germany planning a similar move for adults. Italy's government was on Wednesday considering a compulsory vaccine pass for at least anyone over 60.
In his interview with Le Parisien on Tuesday, Mr Macron said that while he would not "vaccinate by force", he hoped to encourage people to get jabbed by "limiting as much as possible their access to activities in social life". 'A president shouldn't say that'
In his interview with Le Parisien on Tuesday, Mr Macron used the vulgar term emmerder to say how he wanted to stir up the unvaccinated. He would not "vaccinate by force" the remaining five million who had not had a dose, but hoped to encourage people to get the vaccines by "limiting as much as possible their access to activities in social life".
"I won't send [unvaccinated people] to prison," he said. "So we need to tell them, from 15 January, you will no longer be able to go to the restaurant. You will no longer be able to go for a coffee, you will no longer be able to go to the theatre. You will no longer be able to go to the cinema.""I won't send [unvaccinated people] to prison," he said. "So we need to tell them, from 15 January, you will no longer be able to go to the restaurant. You will no longer be able to go for a coffee, you will no longer be able to go to the theatre. You will no longer be able to go to the cinema."
The debate in parliament has drawn protests from opponents of the Covid passThe debate in parliament has drawn protests from opponents of the Covid pass
The word used by Mr Macron - emmerder - is a vulgar term meaning to annoy and, three months before the French presidential election, it prompted a strong reaction from opposition politicians. Ahead of a presidential election campaign in which Mr Macron is yet to announce his intention to run, his remarks prompted a strong reaction from opposition figures.
"No health emergency justifies such words," tweeted Bruno Retailleau, Senate leader of the right-wing Republicans. "Emmanuel Macron says he has learned to love the French, but it seems he especially likes to despise them." Right-wing Republicans candidate Valérie Pécresse said she was outraged that the president had accused unvaccinated people of not being citizens. "You have to accept them as they are - lead them, bring them together and not insult them," she told CNews.
One of the main candidates for the presidency, Valérie Pécresse of the Republicans, said she was outraged that the president had accused unvaccinated people of not being citizens. "You have to accept them as they are - lead them, bring them together and not insult them," she told CNews. Party colleague Bruno Retailleau said pointedly: "Emmanuel Macron says he has learned to love the French, but it seems he especially likes to despise them."
Far-right leader Marine le Pen tweeted: "A president shouldn't say that... Emmanuel Macron is unworthy of his office." Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen tweeted: "A president shouldn't say that... Emmanuel Macron is unworthy of his office."
Meanwhile, leftist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon described the remarks as an "astonishing confession". "It is clear, the vaccination pass is a collective punishment against individual freedom," he added. Meanwhile, leftist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon described the remarks as an astonishing confession: "It's clear, the vaccination pass is a collective punishment against individual freedom."
Similar language was used by President Georges Pompidou in 1966, but, in contrast to Macron, he said it was time to stop annoying the French. Macron ally Christophe Castaner said on Wednesday that "the phrase didn't shock anyone when it came out of Pompidou's mouth". Macron offers a chance too good to miss
The airwaves in France are shrill this morning with the sound of angry politicians. From left and right, moderate and extreme, opponents are outbidding each other in condemnation of President Macron's emmerder.
In a pre-election period, it's an opportunity too good to miss to accuse him of all his old faults: arrogance, flippancy, detachment, ignorance of the concerns of ordinary folk.
But as this is indeed a pre-election period, we can also be certain the president knew precisely what he was doing when he uttered those provocative words in Le Parisien. This was no uncalculated outburst.
What he wants to do is flush out his enemies on the right. The left he's not so bothered about. But Valérie Pécresse's Republicans party (LR) has become - since her nomination as candidate - his main political preoccupation.
By taking such a strong and coercive position against the unvaccinated, Mr Macron is inviting the LR to choose their side. Are they with him, doing everything possible to boost the number of vaccinated? Or are they siding with the minority, the five million instead of the 50 million, and the anti-vaxxers?
Because if it's the second, that's actually quite an awkward place to be ahead of a presidential election.
Mr Macron's choice of language is not unprecedented for a French leader.
The same word was used by Georges Pompidou in 1966 when he said it was time to stop annoying the French. Like him, Mr Macron said his role was not to irritate the French, but the unvaccinated was a different story.
Macron ally Christophe Castaner said on Wednesday "the phrase didn't shock anyone when it came out of Pompidou's mouth".
Omicron: Good news, bad news and what it all meansOmicron: Good news, bad news and what it all means
Covid map: Where are cases the highest?Covid map: Where are cases the highest?
France has one of the highest Covid vaccination rates in the EU, with more than 90% of the adult population double-jabbed, and Mr Macron has highlighted the estimated five million people who remain unvaccinated. France has one of the highest Covid vaccination rates in the EU, with more than 90% of the adult population double-jabbed.
For months France has asked people to show either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test to access many public venues.For months France has asked people to show either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test to access many public venues.
But the French government wants to remove the option to show a negative test in response to record increases in infections, driven by the highly contagious Omicron and Delta variants of Covid.But the French government wants to remove the option to show a negative test in response to record increases in infections, driven by the highly contagious Omicron and Delta variants of Covid.
On Tuesday, the country reported 271,686 new daily Covid cases - the highest number of daily infections recorded in France since the start of the pandemic.On Tuesday, the country reported 271,686 new daily Covid cases - the highest number of daily infections recorded in France since the start of the pandemic.
Mr Macron is still yet to formally declare he will stand for a second term but told Le Parisien in Tuesday's interview that he wanted to run and would clarify his decision "once the health situation allows it". While Mr Macron is yet to formally declare he is standing for a second term, he said on Tuesday he wanted to run and would clarify his decision "once the health situation allows it".
This video can not be playedThis video can not be played
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Experts answer your questions about the Omicron variantExperts answer your questions about the Omicron variant