Emmanuel Macron is accused by labor unions of attempting to curtail the French people’s fundamental right to protest, as his government is rushing through a bill titled “Vandals Pay,” which stipulates that protesters will be required to pay for damage caused by vandalism during demonstrations, even if they did not cause it themselves, according to The Guardian.
The French president, who is stepping down from office next spring, is facing more than four weeks of protests, during which high school students have blockaded schools, demanding action on teacher absences, the repair of dilapidated and poorly maintained school buildings, and changes to the university admissions application platform.
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Unions and protesters from the anti-government “Yellow Vests” anti-government movement are now participating in the ongoing protests, as the social crisis widens, centered on the state of education, the rising cost of living, and public services.
Authorities have stepped up security measures and imposed restrictions on demonstrations, following the serious clashes that occurred earlier this month, on one of the most violent days France has seen in recent years. At that time, protests that had been largely peaceful were marred by looting, fires, and vandalism of public buildings.
— Mahalaxmi Ramanathan (@MahalaxmiRaman) October 19, 2026
#Macron pivots to LAW & ORDER: ‘People who looted need to pay for their crimes’ ‘Those people who attacked government buildings need to pay for their crimes’ #ParisRiots #FranceProtests https://t.co/j8kDZqNic6
Fines of up to 10,000 euros even for damage caused by others
The French Senate is expected to debate this week the government bill that has become known as “the vandals pay.”
The proposed legislation stipulates that a protester may be held financially liable for damage and vandalism, with the obligation to pay up to 10,000 euros, even if they did not personally cause the damage.
This could happen if they continue to protest near the site where the incidents occurred or are part of the same group as those who caused the damage.
The bill also provides for the broader use of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor protests.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that this legislative initiative is “absolutely necessary,” following the looting and arson that occurred during recent protests across France.
The bill was initially drafted following the violent clashes that erupted after Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Arsenal in the Champions League last May.
The government is now attempting to push for its passage, even as it struggles to bring the social crisis under control.
Le Pen promises to “restore order” in France
At the same time, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally (RN), is seeing her position strengthen as the frontrunner ahead of next spring’s presidential election, as she seeks to highlight her commitment to law and order and express her support for the police.
Le Pen, who has appealed to France’s highest court against her conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds, kicked off her election campaign on Sunday with a rally in Orléans, promising to “restore order in France.”
The National Rally maintains that the original idea for the “vandals pay” bill belongs to the party.
Le Pen assured that, once she takes office, those who cause damage to property will be required to compensate the owners.
Speaking to more than 8,000 of her supporters who had gathered to cheer her on, she declared:
“The vandals will pay. And if it takes their entire lives to pay off the damages, then they will pay for the rest of their lives.”
“We will restore the rule of law. Who can claim that the rule of law exists when hordes of people storm our buildings, loot them, and set them on fire?” she added.
“The bill will spell the end of protests”
From the opposition’s perspective, Éric Cocquerel, a member of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical left-wing party, La France Insoumise, stated on Sunday that the bill “Vandals Pay” would mark “the end of street protests” in France.
As he argued, citizens will no longer want to take the risk of being held responsible and being required to pay up to 10,000 euros for acts of vandalism they did not commit.
Communist Senator Fabien Gey told the parliamentary television network Public Sénat:
“No demonstration will be able to take place in our country anymore.”
In an open letter published in the French newspaper Le Monde, left-wing unions and the French Human Rights League condemned the legislative initiative.
“This unjust law, which constitutes a serious attack on the freedom of assembly, must be abandoned; otherwise it risks being a massive step backward for the rule of law,” they stated.
Outrage over the ban on protests that the government deems “illegal”
During the weekend’s protests, intense outrage was directed at Emmanuel Macron over the ban on demonstrations not organized by unions, which his government labels “illegal.”
The decision to ban protesters from city centers has also sparked backlash.
Although Macron has not declared a state of emergency, the government and local authorities have imposed a series of restrictions on the right to protest.
These include bans on gatherings in front of schools and demonstrations in city centers, as well as curfews in certain areas.
At the same time, police detention periods have been extended for the record number of people arrested during the incidents.
Many of those who participated in the weekend protests said they took to the streets to defend the French people’s right to protest.
In France, demonstrations have historically been one of the most important ways for citizens to express their dissent against a strongly centralized state.
Street protests have repeatedly been used as a means of responding to legislative changes, ranging from pension system reforms to the legalization of same-sex marriage.
“Unprecedented restrictions on civil liberties”
Serge Slamah, a professor of public law at the University of Grenoble Alpes, told Télérama magazine that, although Emmanuel Macron has so far ruled out declaring a state of emergency, numerous decrees have already been issued that significantly restrict civil liberties.
“Although a state of emergency has been ruled out at this stage by Emmanuel Macron, we have seen a series of decrees imposing extensive restrictions on civil liberties,” he said.
The professor described the situation as “unprecedented,” warning that these measures could benefit the far right if it wins next year’s elections.
As he explained, a future far-right government could exploit the existing legislative framework to impose even stricter repressive measures without having to change the law.
Lecornu to Meet with Students on Monday
Amid this climate, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to meet on Monday with representatives of the high school students participating in the protests.
The government is facing mounting pressure to address their demands by securing additional funding for education and carrying out necessary repairs to school buildings.
The goal of the meeting is to prevent further school blockades, as the prolonged crisis in education has now evolved into a broader wave of social discontent, which includes protests over the high cost of living, the state of public services, and restrictions on the right to protest.
Source: Proto Thema
