France fast-tracks controversial law on protest damage
The French parliament will debate at the end of October a proposal that could make participants in violent groups jointly liable.
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The French government will put the ‘casseurs-payeurs’ bill before the Senate on 27 October. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced this against the backdrop of rising tensions surrounding lycée protests and debates over damage caused during demonstrations.
The government submitted the proposal to the Senate on 16 September. Its consideration is being fast-tracked. According to the official explanatory memorandum, the government wants not only to prosecute violence and vandalism, but also to recover financial losses from perpetrators more quickly.
The core of the bill is a new form of civil liability. The government wants people who knowingly take part in a violent group, or continue taking part after police have called for it to disperse, to be held jointly liable for damage caused within that group.
According to Bregeon, the proposal could also affect social benefits when fines or compensation are not paid. This element is politically sensitive because parents could also be financially affected when a minor is involved in vandalism. The precise application must still be assessed by parliament.
The government says existing rules are insufficient for recovering damages. In practice, identifying individual perpetrators and collecting relatively small sums are said to be particularly difficult. According to the government, the bill is intended to prevent the cost being left with councils, shopkeepers or other victims.
Opponents fear that the bill stretches responsibility too far. Critics say someone present at a protest could be held liable without it being established which act of vandalism that person personally caused. The proposal could therefore conflict with the individual nature of punishment and compensation.
The Senate can amend the proposal before it moves to the next parliamentary stage. It is therefore not yet clear whether the liability, the position of minors and the possible withholding of benefits will remain the same in the final law.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The government has submitted a bill on recovering damages arising from violence and vandalism in public spaces.
- The Senate will consider the proposal at the end of October.
- The bill could introduce joint civil liability for participants in violent groups.
Left
Arguments Joint liability and the withholding of social benefits could also affect peaceful demonstrators and families; individual culpability should therefore remain decisive.
Values The right to demonstrate, proportionality and social protection.
Consequences A broad law could discourage protest and blur the boundary between peaceful protest and punishable participation.
Centre
Arguments Perpetrators should compensate victims, but the law needs clear rules of evidence, judicial oversight and protection for uninvolved participants.
Values Legal certainty, victim protection and practicability.
Consequences A narrowly defined framework could improve the recovery of damages without becoming a general group punishment.
Right
Arguments Those who knowingly remain in a violent group should not be able to hide behind the collective; the state must compensate victims and businesses more quickly.
Values Public order, responsibility and the protection of property.
Consequences A stronger financial instrument could deter vandalism and leave the bill with taxpayers less often.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The text clearly distinguishes between the government’s proposal and the still uncertain outcome of the parliamentary process. The sections on benefits and parental liability are attributed to the government spokesperson as elements of the proposed framework.
- confirmed The Senate will debate the proposal on 27 October. — The government spokesperson announced that date in an interview with Europe 1. source
- confirmed The proposal was submitted to the Senate on 16 September and is being fast-tracked. — This is stated in the official Senate dossier. source
- confirmed The bill introduces joint civil liability for participants in violent groups. — The official government explanation describes a new regime for joint civil liability. source
- confirmed The precise final rules have not yet been settled. — The proposal is still undergoing parliamentary consideration. source
Editor's note
The submission date, fast-track procedure and announced Senate debate have been confirmed. The final text and legal application have not yet been settled.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „frankrijk protesten”
- NU.nl — „frankrijk protesten”
- De Telegraaf — „frankrijk protesten”