Océane Théard, edited by Gauthier Delomez 6:58 p.m., February 12, 2022, modified at 7:06 p.m., February 12, 2022

Thousands of French people opposed to health restrictions gathered in Paris on Saturday during "freedom convoys" to try to blockade the capital.

Nearly 300 people were fined by the police.

Europe 1 met participants who want to return to pre-crisis life.

REPORTING

They want to regain the “freedom” of before the health crisis.

Thousands of French people gathered in Paris on Saturday as part of the "freedom convoy" movement, despite the ban by the police headquarters, to challenge health restrictions.

The vast majority of them were gradually dispersed in the afternoon by the police who used tear gas.

If more than 300 people have been fined, according to the police, the demonstrators met by Europe 1 do not regret having gone to the capital.

>> Find Europe evening weekend in podcast and replay here

The end of health restrictions and an increase in purchasing power

The participants in the convoys, tricolor in hand, demand the cancellation of the vaccination pass, the end of health restrictions and an increase in purchasing power.

Among them shouting at the top of their lungs the word "freedom", there is Karine.

Eyes surrounded, this resident of Gard arrived Saturday morning on the Champs-Élysées.

"I have crossed France since Thursday, and to see the people who are simply for freedom, who want to be free", she underlines at the microphone of Europe 1. "We want to be free of our choice, of our body, to live as we hear it, as we were", continues the protester.

A movement different from that of the "yellow vests"

If some demonstrators wear fluorescent vests, in reference to the movement of "yellow vests", all those met by Europe 1 repeat that they do not belong to this movement.

This is the case of Christophe, who came from Valenciennes in the North.

"Even if we equate this movement to the yellow vests, today it's the convoy of freedom", he explains, and continues: "When we see that there are people from Marseille, Montpellier, who went back to Paris, it's not for nothing".

All participants in the "freedom convoy" wish to continue the mobilization.

Some will take the road Saturday evening in the direction of Brussels, where there too, the mobilization is not welcome.