Frenchman Macron has sparked outrage when he promises to disturb the unvaccinated

the French President Emmanuel Macron has sparked new criticism from his political opponents after he said it would make life difficult for those citizens who reject the Covid-19 vaccine.

“I’m not in favor of disturbing the French. I’ve been at the administration all day when it blocks them. Well, there, unvaccinated, I really want to harass them. And so we will continue, until the end,” the French leader said in an interview with The Parisians, published Tuesday night, after a CNBC translation.

Macron used the French word “emmerder” in an interview with him. The Parisians, which could roughly be translated as “trouble” or “disturbing” or would be close to the term “angry”.

His comments coincided with parliamentary debates on Covid cards – documents stating whether someone has been vaccinated – used to attend certain events. A bill preventing unvaccinated people from entering most public spaces and transportation is expected to be approved this week, but has been postponed due to death threats against some lawmakers.

Macron’s words have prompted various political leaders to criticize the current president, and elections are expected in the spring.

Marine Le Pen, head of the anti-immigrant association Rassemblement National, said via Twitter: “This vulgarity and this violence of the President of the Republic proves that he never considered himself the President of all the French.”

Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, called Macron’s remarks “unworthy and irresponsible.”

Stephan Troussel, a member of the Socialist Party, said Macron was playing with fire.

In the same interview with The Parisians, Macron also said he would not vaccinate people by force. He added, however, that he would encourage people to get vaccinated against Covid by limiting the access of unvaccinated people to social activities as much as possible.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, about 73% of the French population is fully vaccinated. 34.3% of the population received the third dose.

The latest debate on vaccination mandates comes just months before key European presidential elections. Voters will go to the polls in late April. Macron has not yet said whether he will run for a second term, but is expected to run again.