An Italian journalist’s comments have been misattributed to French President Emmanuel Macron

After Emmanual Macron announced that residents would face restrictions if they remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, a forceful statement attributed to the French president started to spread among people supportive of the country’s action. 

"I no longer have any intention of sacrificing my life, my time, my freedom and the adolescence of my daughters, as well as their right to study properly, for those who refuse to be vaccinated," he said to "anti-vaxxers," according to a quote shared on Instagram. "This time you stay home, not us." 

The post also quotes Macron as saying, "We cannot make those who have the civic sense to get vaccinated bear the burden of inconvenience," and "the restrictions will weigh on others, those who for reasons incomprehensible in the country of Louis Pasteur, science and the Enlightenment still hesitate to use the only weapon available against the pandemic, the vaccine."   

This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

As Alex Hern, a technology editor at the Guardian, pointed out on July 21, Macron doesn’t have adolescent daughters. He has no biological children. His wife, Brigitte Macron, has three children from another marriage — including one son — and they’re all in their 30s and 40s.

Italian journalist Selvaggia Lucarelli tweeted at Hern that the statement originated with her.

"I confirm those were my words," she wrote on July 21. She linked to the original post on her Facebook page. 

Featured Fact-check

Facebook posts

stated on January 22, 2020 in a Facebook post

Says a coronavirus patent expired just as there is a "sudden outbreak" and, despite "media fear-mongering," there is already a vaccine available.

The July 13 Facebook post, translated to English from Italian, wrote: "I no longer have any intention of sacrificing my life, time, freedom and adolescence of my son as well as his right to study properly, for anyone who refuses to vaccinate themselves. This time you’re staying home to yourself, not us." 

She also posted it on Instagram. 

In both posts Lucarelli quotes Macron making the second two statements that appear in the Instagram post misattributing her own words to the French president. 

He did describe France as a country of science, Enlightenment and Louis Pasteur, though the exact translation appears differently online depending on the source.

But he didn’t make the other statement that is spreading on social media. 

We rate that False.