Paris (AFP)

Several tens of thousands of people gathered again on Saturday in the streets across France to shout their opposition to the health pass imposed by the government and their fear of vaccines, a mobilization in decline for the third consecutive week.

At the end of the day, the Ministry of the Interior announced that it had counted nearly 160,000 demonstrators in the 222 processions identified across the country, including 14,500 in Paris.

Last weekend, Beauvau with counted more than 175,000 demonstrators.

The militant collective Le Nombre Jaune, which publishes a city-by-city count, has identified in its "first estimate" at least 319,290 demonstrators in France, against 357,100 a week ago.

In addition to the four Parisian parades, the most important events took place in Montpellier (9,500 people) and Mulhouse (5,000).

According to the prefectures, they were also 4,000 in Toulon and Annecy, 3,000 in Marseille or 2,500 in Lyon.

A few days before the start of the school year, many Bordeaux demonstrators reiterated their refusal to vaccinate children.

"We are not laboratory rats," an 11-year-old boy who came with his 46-year-old father told AFP.

"We want to live in a free country, there is no figure that justifies mass vaccination", denounced his father, equating vaccination to nothing less than "rape".

Since July, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life - former "yellow vests", "anti-tax" activists, conspiracy theories or simple opponents of Emmanuel Macron - have been pounding the streets every Saturday to denounce vaccines and health passes.

They have taken place without significant incident so far, except for a few rare throws of tear gas canisters and arrests.

Asked about the dispute, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran assured this week that "the last reluctance is falling in the face of the success of the health pass".

Florian Philippot (c, l), leader of the nationalist party Les Patriotes, and lawyer Fabrice di Vizio (c, d) during a demonstration against the health pass and the vaccination obligation for certain professions, on August 28, 2021 in Paris Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP

- "Scandal" -

This device, to be presented in bars, restaurants, long-distance transport or even hospitals, could be extended beyond November 15, the limit set by law, "if the covid does not disappear from our lives", warned Mr. Véran.

"This pass is a scandal", launched in Rennes Virginie, a 46-year-old market gardener who did not wish to reveal her surname.

"This vaccine is still experimental, I think it is not reliable at all, even more dangerous than the Covid, which is no worse than a big flu".

Demonstration against the health pass and the vaccination obligation for certain professions, at the call of the nationalist party Les Patriotes, August 28, 2021 in Paris Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP

According to health authorities, the Covid-19 epidemic has already caused more than 114,000 deaths in France.

Since August 16, the health pass also applies in many shopping centers.

From Monday, it will be imposed on employees of places where customers are requested.

Employees refusing to present it may have their employment contracts suspended.

"I have already been summoned by the management, I do not know what I am going to do, because on the one hand I am radically opposed to being vaccinated, and on the other hand I risk losing my job, I I have a little girl to feed, "Nancy Peschtel, an educator specializing in a day hospital and subject to compulsory vaccination, told Toulouse.

"The health pass should not exist in a democracy", for his part rebelled in Lille Marc, a 43-year-old computer scientist, who confided to having himself received a first dose.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health, more than 48 million French people (71% of the population) have received at least one injection and 42.7 million the two prescribed doses.

Demonstration against the health pass and the vaccination obligation for certain professions, August 28, 2021 in Montpellier Sylvain THOMAS AFP

Mr. Philippot confirmed on Saturday the organization on September 4 of a national rally.

"We will go until the general blockage and until the general strike", he promised his troops, "we will not let go".

© 2021 AFP