Boos, cheers greet Macron pledge to 'piss off' unvaccinated

FILE PHOTO: France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a news conference at the European Council Building at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium December 17, 2021. John Thys/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -The government on Wednesday defended President Emmanuel Macron's use of a coarse insult in a stepped-up campaign against France's unvaccinated, after the phrase drew condemnation from the opposition and mixed reactions from voters.

Parliament suspended debate on a COVID-19 bill as opposition lawmakers demanded explanations from Macron, who earlier said he wanted to "piss off" unvaccinated people by making their lives so complicated they would end up getting jabbed.