French ‘Rioter-Pays’ Bill Sparks Outcry Over Democratic Freedoms
France faces intense backlash over a proposed law forcing rioters to pay up to €10,000 in damages, with critics warning it threatens the right to protest.
POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — A controversial legislative proposal in France is drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts, who argue that the measure threatens the fundamental democratic right to assemble and protest.
The bill, which is currently under debate in the Senate, would hold individuals convicted of riot-related damage liable for up to 10,000 euros ($11,150) in repair costs. The government has suggested that these payments could potentially be recovered through the seizure of social benefits.
Known colloquially as the casseurs-payeurs—or breakers-pay—bill, the legislation was originally conceived following violent incidents that occurred after a Paris Saint-Germain Champions League victory in late May. The government is now positioning the law as a necessary response to recent unrest observed during demonstrations across several French cities.
Amnesty International has urged lawmakers to reject the proposal, warning that it would have a chilling effect on peaceful assembly. Critics specifically fear that the law could hold legitimate demonstrators financially responsible for property damage caused by others, even if those individuals did not personally participate in the destruction.
President Emmanuel Macron’s administration maintains that the legislation is essential to ensure accountability for the destruction of public and private property. As the two-day Senate debate commences, the government faces mounting pressure to balance the need for public order with the protection of civil liberties.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
