Despite protests from many French legislators, they have taken a step closer towards passing a bill that would require coronavirus vaccinations in certain professions. It also would condition travel on a medical pass showing proof of vaccination.Late Saturday, the French Senate approved the bill. However, it made changes to the draft government had submitted to exempt minors from the law and to remove cafe and restaurant terraces from areas that require the new passe sanitaire. The senators also proposed an amendment to delay implementation of the new rules until September instead of August. The lower house must now approve the law.More than 160,000 protestors marched in France to protest the proposed restrictions. This is an increase of around 50,000 who demonstrated last weekend. According to a poll, around 35 percent of French citizens support such demonstrations.That's significantly lower than backing at the start of other recent-anti-government protest movements, such as the so called Yellow Jackets who rose up against fuel price hikes in 2018. Many Yellow Jackets joined protests against the health card.Protesters decry what they call a "sanitary dictatorship" claiming that the health passes violate individual freedom.France's government has been watching the protest movement closely, as it fears a new social crisis this summer and into autumn. The demonstrations have attracted large crowds despite being summer vacation. The government made concessions after last week's protests. They reduced fines for non-compliance, extended deadlines and changed rules for shopping malls.Many other European countries are also moving forward with vaccine passes to try to stop the resurgent pandemic and allow citizens to resume a normal life.This issue is politically divisive in Germany. Last week, Angela Merkel rejected a French-style approach. However, Helge Braun, her chief of staff in the Chancellory on Sunday suggested that such moves might be possible if there are more cases. He told Bild am Sonntag that those who have been vaccinated will have more freedom than those not.Braun explained that if the risk of infection is high, even with testing concepts, then unvaccinated persons would need to decrease their contact. This could also mean that certain services such as movie and stadium visits, including those offered by unvaccinated individuals, may not be available to them.Braun was however contradicted in this interview by Armin Laschet who is Merkel's successor and Christian Democrat leader. He also ran for chancellor in the September elections. In an interview, Laschet stated that this [current] principle was a good one. Braun's remarks were also criticized by the opposition parties.Italy also adopted a "green-pass" proof-of vaccination system Thursday to allow access to certain leisure activities as well as restaurant dining. Similar plans were also protested in other European countries Saturday.French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the protesters and said that the vaccine was the best form of protection against the pandemic."What's your freedom worth if your only desire is to be vaccinated but you end up infecting your father, mother, or yourself tomorrow?" Your freedom has made me a victim. Macron spoke to reporters as he visited Tahiti's hospital. "That is not freedom. That is selfishness and irresponsibility."Macron is visiting French Polynesia to highlight government support for the Pacific archipelago’s difficulties in controlling the pandemic.Paris saw 11,000 protestors on Saturday, which was less than the previous weekend. However, violence broke out when some protestors clashed with police officers. According to Gerald Darmanin, Interior Minister, nine people were taken into custody. Protesters attacked a television crew that was covering the march in Marseille."Everyone is free to express their feelings calmly, while still respecting others. This virus can't be defeated by protests. Macron stated that, as far as I know its function, it is not very effective to protest against them.
