The French Senate has approved a bill granting collective responsibility for protesters, with 229 senators voting in favor of the measure adopted on October 28 and 105 opposing it, according to the Public Senate portal.
Under the legislation, participants in demonstrations could face liability for damages caused during protests, including those who were not directly involved in causing the damage. Fines under the law can reach up to 10,000 euros.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the initiative as timely, stating: “The response to the 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.”
However, left-wing parties have sharply criticized the bill, arguing it restricts citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. Melanie Vozhel, a senator from the Environmentalists Green Party, claimed that the legislation contradicts the constitution and attempts to hold peaceful demonstrators responsible for the actions of others.
The bill will now be sent to the deputies of the National Assembly for further consideration.
Recent protests in France have already led to significant financial consequences, with insurers estimating potential losses could reach €1.2 billion. The unrest began in mid-September when high school students and Paris suburbs residents rallied demanding improved educational conditions. As demonstrations grew, they expanded to include individuals frustrated with rising living costs, eventually spreading nationwide.
On October 24 alone, more than 400,000 people participated in large-scale demonstrations across France. Trade union representatives, students, and activists from the Yellow Vests movement joined the protests. Jerome Rodriguez, leader of the Yellow Vests movement, stated that protesters are united by anger over “the hard life in the republic.” French presidential candidate Natasha Poloni described the country as facing a deep crisis that has begun to resemble “a house eaten by termites.”
