Politics · France · 3 hrs ago
French Senate backs bill allowing riot fines to be taken from family benefits
France’s Senate approved a bill to make people pay for riot damage after unrest caused more than 1 billion euros in estimated damage.
Under the proposal, people who knowingly join a group preparing violence, or stay after police order it to disperse, could be liable for damage caused by others.
Courts could take payments from family benefits once a ruling is final, including housing aid and the minimum-income benefit.
French law already generally makes parents liable for damage caused by their children under 18, and the bill would extend the ways that payments can be collected.
Supporters say victims should be compensated, but human rights groups warn that deductions could harm poor families and discourage peaceful protest.
The Senate passed the measure 229-105, and France’s National Assembly will consider it next; no political bloc there has a majority.
France’s Senate approved a bill allowing some riot-related damages to be deducted from family benefits, by 229 votes to 105.
The measure could apply after a final court ruling to family allowances, housing aid, minimum-income payments and back-to-school allowances.
People who knowingly join a group preparing violence, or stay after an order to disperse, could face liability of up to 10,000 euros.
Supporters say the measure would compensate victims and reduce costs for taxpayers, while human rights groups warn it could harm poor families and discourage peaceful protest.
The bill now goes to the National Assembly, where no bloc has a majority.
- Who
- The French Senate approved the bill. It could affect people held liable for riot damage and their families.
- What
- The bill would allow some family benefits to be used to repay riot-related damage after a final court ruling.
- When
- The Senate approved it this week, according to the articles.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- Supporters say it would compensate victims and keep taxpayers from bearing the cost; officials also say the aim is to prevent future riots.
Bill supporters
Human rights groups opposing the bill
Purpose
Bill supporters
Supporters say victims deserve compensation and taxpayers should not carry the cost.
Human rights groups opposing the bill
Human rights groups say the bill could discourage peaceful protest and hurt families who depend on benefits.
Impact
Bill supporters
Supporters argue the measure could help pay for damage caused in riots.
Human rights groups opposing the bill
Amnesty International France’s Nathalie Godard warned that seizing payments could have disastrous consequences for the poorest.
After riots, insurers paid 793 million euros on 16,400 claims, according to France Assureurs.
The French Senate approved the bill by 229 votes to 105.
The bill goes to the National Assembly, where no bloc has a majority.
- Senate vote
- 229-105
- Maximum liability
- 10,000 euros
- Estimated damage
- Over 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion)
- RSA monthly amount
- Up to about 650 euros for a single person
- Example monthly deduction
- 57 euros from a household receiving RSA
3 sources
What people are saying
could have disastrous consequences for the poorest