Kathmandu. The upper house of the French Parliament (Senate) has passed a bill on Wednesday with the provision that the protesters themselves shall bear the financial responsibility for vandalism and damage during public demonstrations. According to the French media France Twenty Four, the opponents have accused that this bill can stifle the natural right to protest.
Last May, there was a big vandalism during the riots that broke out after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won over Arsenal in the final of the European Champions League. After this this bill was prepared.
This bill will directly affect the participants in the vandalism incident that took place during the protests in France on October 17th. On that day, a large number of infrastructures of national importance were vandalized and set on fire across the country. Shopping malls and local shops were also targeted.
The Senate, which has a majority of right-wing and centrist alliances, has passed the revised and extended version of this bill by 229 votes against 105 votes. The draft law will now go to the lower house for debate and voting. No party has a clear majority in the lower house (National Assembly).
Marine Le Pen, a radical right-wing leader who is going to be a candidate in the next presidential election, has supported this bill. Opinion polls show that he is very popular.
Addressing the Parliament, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has said that it is very important to respond to the chaotic situation and damage seen on October 17. “We will not let all the citizens pay for the mistakes made by a few people who cause trouble,” he said.
According to the new law, protesters may have to pay a fine of up to 10,000 euros for damage caused during public demonstrations. In the bill, it is mentioned that joint financial responsibility will be imposed on such persons if they are found to be deliberately participating in a group formed with the intention of vandalism.
Such a rule will be applied to people who continue to sit in the crowd even after the police have declared the protest uncontrollable and warned them twice to disperse. Critics are concerned that such a provision may compel even those who are not involved in the vandalism to pay fines by considering them as accomplices.
In order to collect the cost of damages, a provision has been made that the welfare allowance and housing assistance received by the accused persons can be confiscated. Left-wing parties and right-wing organizations have strongly criticized such a rule. They allege that this will suppress people’s right to protest.
Communist Senator Favian Gay protested that such a law was introduced with the intention of putting peaceful protestors and rioters in the same pot. Likewise, Green Party Senator Melanie Bhogele has accused the government of responding to the social demands of the people by giving collective punishment.
On the other hand, the supporters of the bill have tried to reassure the critics. Olivier Bitz of the centrist Horizon party said, “This bill should not be allowed to create the illusion that it criminalizes a street brawler or a peaceful protestor.”