A challenge that does not weaken. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered, Saturday, December 11, in the center of Vienna (Austria), after already several weekends of protest in the country, to denounce the compulsory vaccination against the Covid-19 and the confinement of those who refuse any injection. About 44,000 people were present, according to estimates communicated by the police.
A total of 24 separate rallies were planned in the Austrian capital, with the far-right FPÖ party organizing in particular “a mega-demonstration” close to the Hofburg Palace, the residence of the President of the Republic. Its leader, Herbert Kickl, pledged to continue the actions until “the government is in trouble”.
“A shame for our country”, “I am neither a neo-Nazi nor a hooligan, I am fighting for freedom and against the vaccine”, “No to vaccine fascism”, could we read on the signs held up by the crowd. A week ago, more than 40,000 people had already marched in Vienna and as many on November 20, just after the announcement of a compulsory vaccination project, unique to date in the EU, to fight the pandemic.
This week, the government unveiled the details: the law will apply from February 2022 to all Austrian residents aged 14 and over (unless exempted for health reasons). Vaccination cannot be imposed by force, specifies the text, but the refusal of a person to comply with it will have legal consequences. The law provides for an initial fine of 600 euros which can go up to 3,600 euros in the event of non-payment.
In addition, if the confinement of the vaccinated ends on Sunday, the non-vaccinated remain, them, banned from leaving. Why “exclude those who are not vaccinated and in particular children ? I find it unbelievably discriminatory not to be able to send a kid to dance, to tennis or even to the swimming pool anymore “, Manuela, 47, herself told AFP “vaccinated twice”. “It makes me really sad.”