仏議会、「衛生パス」法案を可決

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】フランス議会は２５日、新型コロナウイルスのワクチン接種を完了しているか検査で陰性だったことを証明する「衛生パス」の提示を日常生活の随所で義務付ける法案を可決した。成立には、法律の違憲審査を行う憲法会議の承認が必要となる。（写真は仏ナントで、「衛生パス」提示と特定職種へのワクチン接種の義務化に抗議する人）
　衛生パスの導入をめぐっては「自由の侵害」だとして一部で激しい反発が起きており、２４日にも全国で１６万人以上が参加する大規模なデモが行われた。内務省によると、この日のデモでは７１人が逮捕された。
　エマニュエル・マクロン大統領は先週、政令（デクレ）により、映画館や美術館、ナイトクラブなどの施設利用の際や、５０人以上が集まる場所やイベントでの衛生パス提示を義務付けた。
　今回の法案ではこれに加えて、８月から航空便や都市間鉄道、カフェやレストランの利用時にも、衛生パスの提示を義務化。また、医療・介護従事者にはワクチン接種を義務付ける。
　変異株が猛威を振るう中、マクロン氏はワクチン接種を新型コロナ対策の最大の武器と位置付けようとしている。一連の施策は事実上、日常生活を支障なく送りたければワクチンを接種するよう市民に要求するものだ。
　仏議会は、下院に当たる国民議会は親マクロン派が過半数を占めるが、上院は野党が多数派で、２０日から長時間の審議が続いていた。上院では、より市民の自由に配慮した法案になるようさまざまな修正が加えられた。
　議会関係者によると、与野党の妥協により、１１月１５日以降も衛生パスの提示義務付けを継続するには議会での採決が必要となった。また、警察の役割が制限されたほか、医療・介護従事者がワクチン接種を拒否した場合もすぐさま解雇せず、給与の支給停止処分とすることを明確化した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/27-14:22）

France's parliament voted to make vaccine passports a key part of daily life in the battle against Covid-19 on Sunday, after a compromise between lawmakers from the upper and lower houses.
The breakthrough in talks came a day after France was again shaken by protests against the rules that saw over 160,000 rally and dozens arrested.
President Emmanuel Macron last week ordered that the health pass -- proof of full vaccination or a negative test -- would be required for the French to visit venues such as cinemas or nightclubs.
The announcement was a move by Macron to make vaccinations the top weapon against Covid-19 as new variants emerge, essentially requiring people to become vaccinated if they want to continue daily routines.
Those changes were implemented by decree, but parliament has been engaged in a marathon session since Tuesday debating whether to extend them.
Vaccine passports have encountered fierce opposition from some, who believe they erode civil liberties.
The ruling party has faced a tough task pushing the legislation through parliament. Pro-Macron MPs control the National Assembly, but the Senate -- the upper house -- is dominated by the opposition right.
The Senate had approved the legislation but added numerous amendments that the government feared risked limiting its impact.
The two sides held three hours of talks Sunday, finding a compromise to pass the bill that evening by a large majority -- 156 votes for, 60 against and 14 abstentions.
The legislation still needs to be approved by France's highest administrative authority, the Constitutional Council, before becoming law -- an extra step requested by Prime Minister Jean Castex.
- Compromise deal -
Macron's announcement had already made the health pass compulsory for cinemas, museums and any venue gathering more than 50 people.
The new legislation would make it compulsory from August for air travel and inter-city trains, as well as for visiting cafes and restaurants.
It would also make vaccinations obligatory for health workers and carers.
The Senate wanted the legislation to be more mindful of civil liberties.
Parliamentary sources said the compromise means the system will only continue after November 15 following a new vote.
The deal also limits the enforcement role of the police, and makes clear that health workers and carers who refuse vaccinations will not automatically be sacked but have their salary suspended.
Covid is temporary, but firings are final, argued one Republican member of the Senate, Philippe Bas.
Some 161,000 people, including 11,000 in Paris, had protested Saturday against the pass.
Seventy-one people were arrested and 29 members of the security forces were injured, the ministry of the interior said.
- 'Irresponsibility and egoism' -
Macron scoffed at how slogans of freedom were being brandished at the protests.
Everyone is free to express themselves calmly with respect for the other, he said. But freedom where I owe nothing to someone else does not exist.
Macron said that under such logic, relatives could be infected by someone who is not vaccinated, or the person could themselves end up in hospital.
I don't call this freedom, I call this irresponsibility and egoism.
By maximising vaccinations, the French government wants to minimise the impact of the fourth coronavirus wave.
Some 40 million people should have received at least one shot by Monday.
France recorded almost 23,000 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, twice as many as last week, as the Delta variant caused a surge.
But in figures the government credits to vaccinations, there are 878 Covid-19 patients in intensive care, compared with a peak of almost 6,000 at the end of April.