The citizens’ appeal is opposed to "the obligation to present CovidCheck in public institutions (hospitals, schools, etc.) and private companies". When the petition was submitted on 8 October, the QR code was already required at the entrance of hospitals in the country (except for emergency rooms and Covid-19 patients). On the same day, the government announced that employers will be allowed to impose CovidCheck at the workplace.

Since then, the has garnered the 4,500 signatures necessary for a parliamentary debate. As of 6.30 a.m. on Friday 5 November, it had 4,659 signatures. Their validity must first be verified by the Chamber of Deputies.

The petition has been open for signature since 22 October and will remain open for 28 days. The number of signatories is likely to increase.

The petition's creator, Catalina-Gina Anton, sees the CovidCheck regime a "threat to fundamental freedoms" for people who do not want to be vaccinated and cannot afford regular tests. For her CovidCheck prevents "free access to the labour market and creates inequality of opportunity" and restricts "rights to free health care”.

Despite their ultimatum, the unions had failed to pressure the government to change the law on CovidCheck at work. It remains to be seen whether the citizens, through their petition, will have an impact or not. Between the launch of the electronic signature in 2014 and 2019, less than 1% of validated petitions have resulted in a law or a bill. Above all, it is often necessary to wait several months before a public debate, and the subject may no longer be relevant by the time the debate on CovidCheck takes place. As a reminder, the current covid law is in force until 18 December. For reference, the petition for a right to telework had exceeded 4,500 signatures in May 2020, for a debate in October. The debate ended in a no vote.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.