French Senate weighs bill to make protesters pay for unrest damage
Welfare benefits and housing assistance could also be seized to help cover the cost of damages under the scheme, a provision that has drawn sharp criticism.
The French Senate is currently considering a bill that would hold protesters financially responsible for damage caused during street demonstrations. This legislation, drafted in response to recent riots following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory, aims to impose fines of up to €10,000 on those deemed to have knowingly participated in vandalism, even if they were not the primary culprits.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez argued that the bill is necessary to prevent the majority of citizens from bearing the costs of a minority of vandals. However, critics warn that the bill could undermine the right to protest and disproportionately affect the poorest families, potentially leading to arbitrary police actions. Left-wing lawmakers have accused the government of an "authoritarian drift" and denounced the bill as a "legal travesty."
Despite these concerns, the bill is expected to receive strong support in the upper house, where a right-wing and centrist alliance holds the majority.
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- French Senate weighs bill to make protesters pay for unrest damage freemalaysiatoday.com
