French government fast-tracks 'casseurs-payeurs' bill to Senate

The French government has accelerated the timetable for its "casseurs-payeurs" bill, scheduling Senate debate for October, aiming to make all participants in a gathering collectively liable for damages up to 10,000 euros without proving individual responsibility. The bill, announced by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, responds to recent violent school blockades and seeks to strengthen a 2019 law deemed ineffective. Under the new rules, anyone remaining in a prohibited gathering could be presumed responsible for damage committed by others, though individuals can prove their innocence. The proposal has sparked strong reactions from left-wing politicians, who call it a "presumption of guilt," while the far-right supports it. The bill also allows damages to be taken from family and housing allowances, respecting a minimum living standard.