The document on 31 December had received 5,923 signatures online, exceeding a minimum of 4,500 to be discussed with lawmakers and government representatives.
“The goal is to remove the constraints and discriminations that are put in place to force the unvaccinated to give in and be vaccinated,” says the petition author, Alexandre Dombrat.
Either the regime under which people need to show a vaccination, recovery or test certificate should end, Dombrat argues, or tests should become free and mandatory for all, since even people who are vaccinated can contract and pass on the virus.
The petition was introduced when the 3G CovidCheck system was still largely in place, with vaccination, recovery or test certificates accepted. It has since been replaced with a 2G (vaccination, recovery) or 2G+ system (2G plus a booster shot or rapid antigen test).
As of 15 January, the 3G CovidCheck system will become mandatory in the workplace with daily testing for unvaccinated employees. At the same time, the government has requested a debate in parliament about the possibility to make vaccination mandatory, a move the country has up until now shied away from.
“Vaccination is not compulsory in the strict sense, but the measures make it in fine compulsory in order to continue to enjoy one’s rights as a citizen,” the petition that will move to debate in parliament says.
It’s not the only CovidCheck petition that is awaiting debate in parliament. A previous petition calling for CovidCheck to be abolished for access to public buildings, such as hospitals and schools, as well as private companies, reached more than 6,000 signatures on 3 December.
Another petition said there should be a referendum on whether to keep the system, reaching support from 5,942 people.
Anyone aged 15 or over with a national social security number can submit and sign a public petition online. Petitions are open for signature for six weeks to reach 4,500 supporters. If successful, the authors face lawmakers and members of the government in a public debate.