News Coronavirus: Thousands protest against restrictions across Europe
The protesters are angered by health passes and mandatory vaccinations,
as they believe those policies curtail freedom. European governments are
ramping up pressure on the unvaccinated to get the jab.
Thousands of Europeans took to the streets in France, Italy and
Greece on Saturday to demonstrate against coronavirus restrictions and
mandatory vaccination policies.
French protesters angered by health pass proposal
In France, some 160,000 demonstrators expressed anger towards French President Emmanuel Macron and the government in Paris and other major cities.
The protesters are incensed by a new bill requiring citizens to have a pass
showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result to enter
restaurants and other public areas. The legislation was passed by the
lower house of parliament on Friday, but is still being debated in the
Senate.
The French demonstrators shouted slogans such as "No to
the pass of the shame," while other protesters carried placards calling
Macron a "tyrant."
Demonstrators rally across Italy
Thousands of protesters rallied across Italy on Saturday, from the major city of Turin in the north to Naples in the south.
The
demonstrators are also angered by a government certificate requiring
vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative test result to participate
in public life. The protesters chanted phrases such as "Freedom!" and
"Down with the dictatorship!"
This certificate, known as the "Green Pass," will be mandatory from
August 6. Italians will need to show the certificate if they want to
partake in indoor dining or enter museums, gyms and other public venues.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi defended the move due to the spread of the delta variant.
"The delta variant is even more of a threat than the other variants," Draghi said Friday.
"The
Green Pass is not arbitrary, but a necessary condition not to shut down
the economy. Without vaccinations, everything will have to close
again," the Italian leader added.
Greeks protest in central Athens
In Greece, around 4,000 people protested outside of the Greek parliament in central Athens against mandatory vaccinations.
Police
used tear gas on some of the protesters. One Greek official told
Reuters news agency that some of the demonstrators were throwing petrol
bombs.
Similar demonstrations have previously occurred in other European countries such as Germany, which is the home of the Querdenker (lateral thinkers) anti-lockdown movement.
In
August of last year, anti-lockdown protesters in Berlin attempted to
storm Germany's parliament building, with the act drawing widespread
condemnation from political leaders.
