The French president announced that vaccination will be made mandatory not only for healthcare personnel but also for those providing care to elderly people in their homes. According to Marine Le Pen, the most popular opposition politician, President Macron's roadmap is clear: he aims to dismantle the social protection system and to severely restrict individual freedoms.

French President Emmanuel Macron began his long-awaited address to the nation by saying that the country has managed to contain the pandemic, and went on to break the bad news: vaccination will be compulsory for all caregivers working in daily contact with the most vulnerable people. From 15 September, there will be controls and sanctions in place for people working in those areas unvaccinated.

The French president argued that vaccination is the only way to fight the spread of the coronavirus. He also shared the above announcement on Twitter, revealing that vaccination will be made mandatory not only for the personnel of healthcare institutions but also for those providing care to elderly people in their homes.

La vaccination sera rendue obligatoire d’ici le 15 septembre pour tous les soignants et les personnels d’hôpitaux, cliniques, maisons de retraite, établissements pour personnes handicapées et pour ceux travaillant au contact des personnes âgées ou fragiles, y compris á domicile.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 12, 2021

The French president also called on every French citizen to get a jab as soon as possible, adding that 9 million doses were available for use. Inoculation is the key to people’s freedom, the head of state stressed.

Emmanuel Macron also said that a vaccination campaign will be launched for secondary school and university students at the beginning of the academic year. He continued his speech by announcing that a state of emergency and a curfew have been introduced in the French overseas departments of Martinique and Reunion due to the resurgence of the virus, noting that vaccination rates in these departments are rather low.

Emmanuel Macron then spoke about the so-called pass sanitaire, also known as the digital passport, which will be mandatory for those wishing to enter cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, hospitals or elderly care homes, and it will also be required for boarding planes, trains and coaches.

Following the president’s address to the nation, Health Minister Olivier Veran took to Twitter to affirm the government’s position: health workers will not be allowed to work and will not receive their salaries if they are not vaccinated by September.

La vaccination est une chance, pour soi et les autres. Une grande majorité des soignants est déjá protégée. J’invite ceux qui ne le sont pas á se faire vacciner sans délai. Une loi prévoira qu’á compter du 15 septembre, des contrôles seront effectués, et des sanctions appliquées.

— Olivier Véran (@olivierveran) July 12, 2021

National Party President Marine Le Pen, France’s most popular right-wing opposition politician, highlighted that President Macron’s roadmap is clear: dismantling the social protection system and severely restricting individual freedoms. Once again, French people will pay for the incompetence of the country’s leaders, she pointed out.

Recul grave des libertés individuelles, déconstruction de l’Etat, liquidation de notre système de protection sociale: la feuille de route de Macron est claire.

C’est encore les Français qui paieront l’imprévoyance et l’incompétence de nos dirigeants. Pour nous c’est non ! MLP

— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) July 12, 2021