Approximately 140,000 people, including around 18,000 in Paris, demonstrated across France on Saturday against the health pass imposed in several cities for the eighth consecutive week. This number is lower than those participating in previous gatherings, according to the French Ministry of the Interior. The ministry recorded 215 gatherings, including five in Paris. Participation has declined compared to previous weeks. Last weekend, around 160,000 protesters were counted, two weeks ago about 175,000, and three weeks ago around 215,000, according to the ministry.
The group "Le Nombre Jaune" (the Yellow Number), which reports on the number of protesters in each city via Facebook, did not immediately provide figures for this weekend. They had reported approximately 323,000 protesters the previous Saturday. Florian Philippot, leader of the sovereignist "Patriots" movement (far-right), stated, "We oppose this health pass... We are giving a third dose of opposition. Ultimately, this pass will fall."
After the authorities launched a campaign on Wednesday to provide a third booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for older and more vulnerable individuals, Philippot promised to go "as far as a general strike if necessary" against the health pass.
In Marseille (south), thousands of people started from the old port, most without masks, under the sun, carrying French flags. A banner read, "No to the health pass. No to discrimination. No to terror: Freedom." Gatherings were also organized in Rennes, Montpellier, Lyon, Nice, Lille, Nantes, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg.
France, with a population of about 67 million, is nearing the vaccination of 50 million people with at least one dose. Additionally, around 45 million people, or 67.3% of the total population, are fully vaccinated.
