Despite widespread protests this weekend, the French parliament, after a marathon session, has voted through a law that makes vaccination certificates mandatory for anyone who wants to travel or eat at a restaurant in the country, for example.
French people who want to go to the cinema, museum or sporting event have already had to show proof that they have either been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recently tested negative for the virus, following a decree by President Emmanuel Macron.
The question for parliament was whether the rules should be extended and become law. The obstacle for President Emmanuel Macron was the Senate, which is controlled by the opposition, but after several hours of negotiations on Sunday, MPs reached a compromise and the bill was voted through with a clear majority.
Now it needs to be approved by France's Constitutional Council before the new rules come into force - an extra step that has been requested by Prime Minister Jean Castex.
The new law will make vaccination passes mandatory for air and train travel, as well as for those who want to visit cafes and restaurants, from August. Vaccination against Covid-19 will also be mandatory for healthcare and care workers, who will otherwise have their salaries suspended.
According to parliamentary sources, the new rules will apply until November 15, unless they are extended in a new vote.
On Saturday, more than 160,000 people demonstrated in France, including 11,000 in Paris, in protest against the vaccine passports. However, a clear majority, about 76 percent of the French, support President Emmanuel Macron's vaccine demands, according to a survey by the television channel BFM earlier in July.
Source: TT
