*About 105,200 protesters march to oppose a proposed law requiring individuals to prove they are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 before they are permitted to eat out, travel on inter-city trains, or attend cultural events in the European country 聽

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Barely days after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to 鈥減iss off鈥� those refusing the vaccine jabs against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, about 105,200 consumers across France have protested over alleged government鈥檚 plans to further restrict the rights of the unvaccinated in the European country.

The turnout Saturday, January 8, 2022, was four times higher than the numbers who answered the December 18 call to protest, when 25,500 people marched across the country, according to government estimates.

French President Emmanuel Macron

The protests oppose a proposed law that will require individuals to prove they are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 before they can eat out, travel on inter-city trains, or attend cultural events, agency report stated.

It was gathered France鈥檚 lower House of Parliament Thursday, January 6, passed the controversial bill in a first reading.

The government, however, has disclosed that it expects the new requirements to be implemented by January 15, although lawmakers in the Senate could now delay the process.

Interior Ministry officials also said 105,200 people participated in Saturday鈥檚 protests across France, 18,000 of them in the capital Paris, where the Police reported 10 arrests and three officers slightly injured.

Elsewhere there were 24 arrests and seven Police officers lightly injured, the Ministry officials said.

Among the larger demonstrations around the country, around 6,000 demonstrators turned out in Toulon, while in Montpellier police used teargas during clashes with protesters.

France recorded 303,669 new Coronavirus cases Saturday amid mounting pressure on hospitals.

The Paris protesters, many of them unmasked, braved the cold and rain brandishing placards emblazoned with the word 鈥渢ruth鈥� and 鈥淣o to vaccine passes,鈥� AFP report said.

Others took aim at President Macron, using the same coarse language he employed in his attack on consumers holding out against vaccinations earlier in the week.

Macron, on Friday, observed that he fully stands by controversial remarks he made last Tuesday, when he vowed to 鈥減iss off鈥� people not vaccinated against COVID-19 until they accept vaccine shots.

The earthy language and uncompromising approach must have provoked uproar in French media and from opponents, report noted.

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