France vows to go ahead with vaccine pass despite parliamentary glitch

2^min

French government officials on Tuesday (January 4) vowed to enact by mid-January, as planned, a law to block unvaccinated people from hospitality venues, despite the legislation hitting a procedural hitch in parliament overnight.

January 15 remains the goal for the law to come into force, European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune told LCI television.

Until now France has enforced a COVID-19 health pass, which means in order to get into restaurants, cafes or cinemas or board trains, people need to either show a fresh negative test, or proof of vaccination.

The legislation will remove the option of showing a negative test, effectively barring unvaccinated people from hospitality venues or trains.

The bill has faced fierce resistance from anti-vaccination campaigners and far-right and far-left groups but is backed by the government, which has a majority in parliament.

Tense discussions in parliament on the new law were halted after midnight on Monday (January 3) after a majority of deputies voted to suspend the session. Pro-government lawmakers were caught by surprise and were not present in the chamber in sufficient numbers to block the motion.

France vows to go ahead with vaccine pass despite parliamentary glitch

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