French Senate reviews 'casseurs-payeurs' bill after October 17 protest violence

The French Senate begins committee review Wednesday of the controversial "casseurs-payeurs" bill, which would establish collective civil liability for damages caused during protests, following violent scenes during October 17 demonstrations. The government-backed bill, defended by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu as "absolutely indispensable," would hold any person in a group committing damage liable up to 10,000 euros without proving individual responsibility. It also allows tapping family allowances and housing aid for unpaid fines. The right-dominated Senate may toughen the text, with amendments proposing broader social benefit seizures and territorial bans for convicted foreigners. Left-wing parties oppose the bill as unconstitutional and a threat to protest rights.