The Prime Minister had announced a review in Parliament "at the beginning of January" but, once is not customary, the procedure is a little in advance.
Barely two weeks after the government announced its desire to transform the health pass into a vaccination pass, the bill arrives this Wednesday in committee at the National Assembly, fifteen days before its expected entry into force.
A "race against the clock" against the fifth wave of Covid-19 and its variant Omicron which is sweeping the country.
The government has accelerated its timetable, despite some criticism from the opposition.
Initially scheduled for application at the end of January, the text will be examined by the Law Commission at the Palais Bourbon from this Wednesday, after a hearing at 2:30 p.m. with the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.
The text will then be discussed in the Senate Chamber from January 5 and its entry into force is scheduled for January 15.
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At this stage, the bill transforms the health pass into a vaccination pass "for access to leisure activities, restaurants and drinking establishments, fairs, seminars and trade shows or even to interregional transport", in particular rail.
It will therefore be necessary to justify a complete vaccination cycle and, contrary to what is in force today, "a test will not be enough", summarized Monday the Prime Minister Jean Castex.
"A particularly strong attack on freedoms"
The only presentation of a negative test would, however, remain valid "for access to health and medico-social establishments and services".
A concession that the Council of State would like to see extended to “compelling reasons of a family nature”.
In an opinion issued on Monday, the Council of State notes that the vaccination pass "is likely to seriously undermine freedoms".
He therefore suggests that “the certificate of recovery” from Covid-19 can be considered “as a substitute for proof of vaccination status”, “under defined conditions”.
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The government also proposes to reserve the right to require "cumulative supporting documents".
This would mean having to present a negative test in addition to a vaccination certificate, when "the interest of public health and the state of the health situation" could justify it.
Hardening of the tone in the face of fraudulent passes
12-17 year olds will be affected by the vaccination pass.
“A coherent choice” according to the Council of State, which also deemed “necessary” the “verification of the identity of customers by professionals”, to “prevent the use of fraudulent documents”.
Monday, Jean Castex confirmed that the managers of establishments open to the public "will have the possibility, in the event of proven doubt, to verify the identities themselves".
The Prime Minister said he was "scandalized" by the false health passes and recalled that an increase in sanctions was provided for in the bill.
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Vaccination pass: Jean Castex promises reinforced sanctions and controls
According to the Chancellery, the fact of presenting a pass belonging to others or of transmitting a pass to others for its fraudulent use will henceforth be punished by a fixed fine of 1,000 euros against 135 euros currently.
And the possession of a false pass will be punished by 5 years imprisonment and a 75,000 euros fine.
An amendment against companies reluctant to telework
An amendment allowing administrative fines to be imposed on companies reluctant to set up telework will also be proposed by the government, the office of Labor Minister Élisabeth Borne said on Tuesday. Jean Castex announced Monday "the use of telework (...) in all companies and for all employees for which it is possible at a minimum of 3 days per week and if possible 4 days", "from Monday and for one duration of three weeks ”.
Several opposition officials criticized the vaccine pass, Marine Le Pen (RN) and Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) in the lead, referring in particular to “a disguised vaccination obligation” and an “inapplicable measure”.
However, the PS group will vote "in principle" for the vaccine pass, just like the LR deputies, the executive welcoming a "very broad consensus" of parliamentary groups.
Members will finally be invited to extend the state of health emergency until March 31, 2022 in Martinique and to declare it until the same date in Reunion.