French bill making rioters pay for damage faces backlash

· Politics · France

A proposed French law that would make rioters liable to pay up to €10,000 ($11,150) for damage they cause is moving through the Senate but faces a backlash from rights groups and some lawyers who call it anti-democratic. Critics say it could undermine the legitimate right to protest. The government put the bill forward in a bid to quell looting and vandalism on the fringes of national protests.

Why it matters：The bill tests the balance between public order and the right to protest in a country with a long tradition of street politics, and could set a precedent for other European governments.

Key points

  • The bill would make rioters liable for up to €10,000 in damage.
  • Rights groups and lawyers say it is anti-democratic.
  • The government says it aims to curb looting and vandalism.

Sources (original reporting)

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