Big protests mark global anger at Covid restrictions

More than 100,000 people protested in France, Italy and Greece on Saturday, sparking clashes with police.

French police detain a pair of protesters in the western city of Nantes on Saturday. Picture: AFP

More than 100,000 people protested in France, Italy and Greece on Saturday, sparking clashes with police as they railed against Covid-19 measures and government sanctions against the unvaccinated aimed at prodding more people into getting jabs.

While in Brazil, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of 400 cities and towns to demand the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro for not doing enough to combat the pandemic. It was the fourth weekend of protests against Mr Bolsonaro, who is being investigated for allegedly turning a blind eye to a scheme to embezzle government funds in the purchase of vaccines.

In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of people in red clothes and wearing face masks marched with banners bearing slogans berating the embattled leader, including “No one can take any more” and “Get out corrupt criminal”.

Protesters complained about Brazil’s late-starting vaccination program and high unemployment rate, and demanded more emergency aid for poor people grappling with the pandemic.

In France, where police deployed teargas and water cannon against some protesters, an estimated 160,000 took to the streets in nationwide protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s health pass that will curtail access to restaurants and public spaces for unvaccinated people.

“Freedom, freedom”, chanted demonstrators in France, carrying placards denouncing “Macron, Tyrant”, “Big Pharma shackles freedom” or saying “No to the pass of shame”.

The demonstrations highlight the conflict between people caught between the advice of the World Health Organisation and other health agencies and the need to earn a living. In Indonesia and Britain, governments have pressed ahead with easing of restrictions even in the face of surging cases.

Meanwhile, around 5000 people demonstrated in Athens, carrying placards touting slogans such as “Don’t touch our children”. And in Italy, protesters gathered in Rome to demonstrate against a mandatory “green pass” for indoor dining and entertainment.

In France, as elsewhere in Europe, the government is making it harder for reluctant citizens to put off getting the jabs. Legislation now being considered by politicians will make vaccinations compulsory for certain professions, while the health pass will severely restrict social life for holdouts from the end of the month.

There were signs the tougher measures announced on July 13 were having the desired effect: 48 per cent of the population were fully vaccinated as of Friday, up eight percentage points from July 10. While more than three-quarters of French people back Mr Macron’s measures, according to a July 13 Elabe poll for BFMTV, a sizeable and vocal minority do not.

Elodie, 34, a care assistant at a Strasbourg nursing home, denounced “the blackmail of caregivers who were at the front line” during the first wave and who were now threatened with “no more pay” and even being fired.

“They’ve been lying to us since the beginning,” she said.

AFP