France Debates Bill to Make Protesters Pay for Riot Damage Amid Free Speech Concerns

France’s Senate on Tuesday debated a controversial bill that would make protesters financially responsible for damage caused during demonstrations, drawing criticism that the proposed measures could undermine the right to protest.

The legislation was drafted following riots that erupted after Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final in May. Its significance has grown following weeks of demonstrations over inequality and rising prices, which culminated in widespread violence on October 17, leaving businesses across France damaged and looted.

The bill was expected to receive strong support in the Senate, where an alliance of right-wing and centrist lawmakers holds a majority. A vote was scheduled for later Tuesday.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has also backed the proposal. Opinion polls have placed her among the leading potential contenders to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in next spring’s presidential election.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez urged lawmakers to act swiftly, citing the destruction and disorder witnessed on October 17.

“We can no longer allow the vast majority of our fellow citizens to pay for a minority of vandals,” he told parliament.

Under the proposed legislation, individuals could face financial penalties of up to €10,000 for damage associated with street demonstrations. Critics warn, however, that people who did not personally engage in vandalism could also be held liable under certain circumstances.

The bill would establish joint financial liability for individuals found to have knowingly participated in a group formed with the intention of committing vandalism. It would also cover people who voluntarily remained at a gathering likely to disrupt public order after police had issued two warnings to disperse.

Authorities could additionally seize welfare benefits and housing assistance to recover compensation for damage, a provision that has drawn strong opposition from left-wing parties and civil rights groups.

Left-wing lawmakers accused the government of an authoritarian shift that threatens the freedom to demonstrate. Communist senator Fabien Gay described the proposal as a “legal travesty” that deliberately blurs the distinction between peaceful protesters and rioters.

Two motions introduced by left-wing lawmakers to reject the bill outright were defeated.

In a letter published last week in the French newspaper Le Monde, a coalition of trade unions and student organisations warned that the legislation posed a serious threat to the freedom of assembly. They argued that it could disproportionately affect poorer families and encourage arbitrary police action.

Amnesty International has also called on the French government to abandon the proposal, citing concerns about its potential impact on fundamental rights.