Over 65-year-olds who want to keep their corona vaccination status in France must show a booster dose from mid-December.

President Emmanuel Macron announced this duty to “boost” in a televised address on Tuesday evening, his ninth since the beginning of the pandemic.

Without a vaccination status, access to public facilities such as restaurants, theaters and long-distance trains in France is only possible with proof of recovery or a fee-based test.

The 3-G rules have been controlled since this summer by means of a health pass, the so-called “Pass Sanitaire”.

Niklas Záboji

Business correspondent in Paris

  • Follow I follow

"The pandemic is not over yet," warned Macron, and also referred to the increasing number of infections in Germany and Great Britain. The fifth wave has picked up speed. The president ruled out another lockdown. But he announced that the controls to comply with the 3G rules will be strengthened. The mask requirement in schools will also be retained “for the time being”. He continued to call for the French to be “extremely vigilant” in dealing with the corona virus. "Get vaccinated to live normally," said Macron. In France, being free also means acting responsibly and with solidarity. As of now, almost 3.6 million French people have received a booster vaccination.

At 7.7 million, more than twice as many are entitled to do so, including those over 65 as well as nurses and doctors.

As Macron said on Tuesday, this circle will soon be significantly expanded.

From December onwards, 50 to 64 year olds will also have the opportunity to “boost” them.

In addition, the French President announced that the first really effective treatments against severe forms of corona disease can be expected at the end of the year.

This is "a new weapon" to fight the pandemic - thanks in part to research by French scientists.

"The requirements are not met"

Macron also used his televised address almost five months before the presidential election to reinforce the renaissance of nuclear power that had been discussed for weeks. Investments will be made in new nuclear power plants, he emphasized - the "first in decades". He left it open, however, as to whether this was just about the previously announced funding for modular mini-reactors or also conventional nuclear power plants; There is speculation about the construction of a number of new pressurized water reactors, of which there is so far only one, the completion of which is planned for 2023 in Normandy. In conjunction with investments in renewable energies, expanding nuclear power is France's answer to climate change, Macron said. Last but not least, this guarantees France's independence.

Macron also commented on the discussion about reforming the French pension system. Recently there had been signs that this could still be expected by the end of his term in office next spring. The French President ruled that out. “The prerequisites have not been met,” stressed Macron. For the time after the election, however, the pension reform should be on the agenda - and it is clear that the entry age will have to rise, so the French will have to work longer in the future. The planned reform is intended to simplify the system and make it fairer, but was postponed due to protests.

Instead of a pension reform, Macron now wants to reform unemployment insurance.

From the beginning of December you must have worked for at least six months if you want to be compensated.

So far, the service is already available after four months.

In addition, job seekers who can not prove an active job search, their grant will be suspended.

He highlighted the recent good economic development in France - the latest forecasts predict almost seven percent growth this year - but said at the same time that this would require further great efforts.

“We must not aim for seven percent unemployment, but full employment,” said Macron.