On the night of July 12 to 13, the National Assembly adopted the “Covid law” bill (221 for, 187 against), after having cut it in half. Article 2 of the text, which provided for the possibility of reinstating the health pass at the borders, has been deleted in its entirety. A small victory for the new opposition, a big defeat for the government.
Read also: 13th draft “Covid law”: the government is staying the course in a headwind
No sanitary pass at the borders
The text can be summed up in two points: first, the extension of the SI-DEP and ContactCovid systems for the tracing of contaminations as well as the collection of medical information, then the discreet maintenance of the past at the discretion of the Prime Minister. The opposition deputies quickly gave voice, and went so far as to delete article 2 entirely. 219 votes against, 195 for.
On social networks, France insubordinate (main driving force of the opposition) and the National Rally – the Republicans sometimes – are acclaimed:
One year to the day after the establishment of an apartheid regime on the soil of the French Republic, the #PassDeLaHonte away from our lives. Thanks to #RN and to #LFI for this burst of honor. Other victories are preparing against the oligarchy! ???? #ViveLaFranceLibre
????????❤️— Rémi Tell (@RemiTell) July 13, 2022
And while the opposition exults, the government enrages:
The situation is serious. By joining together to vote against the measures to protect the French against Covid LFI, the LR and the RN prevent any border control against the virus. After the disbelief on this vote, I will fight so that the spirit of responsibility wins in the Senate.
— Élisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) July 12, 2022
What the editorialist Matthew Croissandeau appointed “a Lalanization of minds” ensuring that “all the anti-vax and anti-passes were in heaven”others call it “democracy”.
Will the two rooms match?
The next step is the Senate. If Elisabeth Borne calls for a “spirit of responsibility”note that a group of seven senators has already signed a platform to call for the pure and simple deletion of the text as a whole.
Read also: A forum of senators calls for the removal of the “Covid law” bill
Over the past two years, the upper house has also shown a more outspoken – albeit measured – opposition to health measures, whether for reasons of protection of privacy or attacks on individual freedoms. . Last February, a report went so far as to mention a “gadget” vaccine pass. Two months later, elected officials were listening to victims of side effects from vaccination.
Finally, remember that on July 8, Le Figaro headlined “Resurgence of contamination: should we still be afraid of the Covid?” and raised one by one the subjects formerly reserved for “conspirators”. It may well be that today “the spirit of responsibility” that the Prime Minister is calling for has changed sides.