Macron warned worst still to come as he ignores protests across france

The French President dismissed demonstrators as a “magma of anti-vax, anti-sciences and anti-state”. It comes after more than 230,000 people took part in marches across France on Saturday.

The events mark the fourth successive weekend of anger against Mr Macron’s measures to curb the spread of coronavirus while reopening the economy. The number of protesters has gradually

risen every weekend to the surprise of police officers, who claim that such movements usually wane in the holiday season. David Le Bars, general secretary of the Union of National Police

Superintendents, said: “In the middle of August, it’s completely unprecedented.” He said the protests were likely to escalate in September when the holiday season ends. The union boss

predicted that it would provoke disturbances reminiscent of the yellow vest protests that erupted against Mr Macron in 2018 and 2019. “We mustn’t be naive,” Mr Le Bars said. “There will be

difficult demonstrations. We consider that September will be a bit difficult.” With 3,000 officers on duty in Paris, where about 17,000 people joined Saturday’s protest, there was less

violence than on previous weekends. But in small, provincial cities, such as Nantes and Dijon, protesters clashed with the police. Under Mr Macron’s plans, proof of full vaccination or a

negative coronavirus test will be required to gain access to bars, cafes, clubs, trains and coaches. It will also be demanded for those who want to be admitted to hospital for non-urgent

treatment and for visitors. Museums, cinemas, libraries, zoos and riverboats are also on a 19-strong list of “places of activity and leisure” that are included in the passport scheme. Mr

Macron’s allies say that the system is needed to overcome a strong anti-vax culture in France. MUST READ: EU HUMILIATED AS BRUSSELS CONTINUES TO BOTCH ITS OWN TRADE DEAL TALKS It will be

used to open up indoor dining, cinemas, theatres and museums. Up to 5,000 people took part in an unauthorised protest against the system, chanting “no green pass” and “freedom, freedom”. In

Rome, about 1,500 demonstrators gathered in the central Pizza del Popolo, in Turin some 1,000 marched through the city centre, and smaller protests were held in Naples and Florence.