215,000 French people protest for the fifth consecutive week against the covid certificate

Tens of thousands of people came out again this Saturday throughout France to protest against the measures of the Government of Emmanuel Macron to promote vaccination against the coronavirus, especially the covid certificate that has been in force for a week and the mandatory vaccination of health personnel. According to the Interior Ministry, almost 215,000 people took to the streets for the fifth consecutive Saturday to show their opposition to what they consider a "health dictatorship", despite the fact that the worsening of the pandemic has led to new confinements and has caused hospital saturation in overseas territories, where the vaccination rate is much lower than in metropolitan France.

The turnout was somewhat lower than had been predicted - the press had cited official sources estimating an increase to 250,000 participants - and also lower than last week, when a peak of 237,000 protesters was recorded. Even so, observers have highlighted the mobilization capacity of a social protest without clear leaders and in the middle of the vacation period.

The Government has been insisting for days that the number of people who are going to be vaccinated each week are many more than those who take to the streets to protest.

Macron even reiterated this week his goal of reaching the 50 million citizens who have received at least one dose before the end of August.

However, according to the French press, the fact that the demonstrations not only do not diminish but are still gaining strength begins to generate concern in an Executive who knows first-hand the wear and tear of long-term protests, such as those that lived with the

between the end of 2018 and 2019 and that he is already looking, like the rest of the parties, to the presidential elections in less than a year.

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The new protests - there were around two hundred calls throughout the country - take place when the health certificate has been in force for almost a week and in the overseas territories, once again confined, the situation worsens at times. On Monday, proof that one has been fully vaccinated, a negative test or that the coronavirus has been passed, began to be required to enter bars and restaurants - even on the terrace -, board an internal flight or a long-distance train and even to visit or accompany someone to the hospital. The measure had already been in place since July 21 for museums, cinemas and theaters and, as of this coming Monday, it will also be required to access shopping centers of more than 20,000 square meters in regions where the incidence rate exceeds 200 cases. per 100,000 inhabitants.The measure will also affect nine shopping centers in Paris, including the iconic Galeries Lafayette, as announced this Saturday by the Prefecture of Police. In total, throughout the country, 104 shopping centers and stores will have to require sanitary control from Monday, according to Agence France Presse.

In a rare public address at the beginning of a health defense council - which is usually held strictly behind closed doors, it also shows the concern generated by the protests - Macron warned on Wednesday that the COVID certificate is a lesser evil. "It is this or the closure of the country, a new curfew or confinement," he declared, while stressing that the health crisis has not yet been overcome and that vaccines "are comprehensive insurance against hospitalizations." This is proven, according to the Government, by the critical situation in overseas territories such as Guadeloupe or Martinique, which are once again confined and where extra medical personnel have had to be sent to deal with collapsed hospitals with new cases of coronavirus.