Are parents in France and Italy liable for damage caused by student protesters? | Protests News
Protests led by high school students in France escalated last month, prompting footage on social media showing parents forcibly removing their children from demonstrations. The movement coincides with government discussions regarding potential fines aimed at parents whose children engage in vandalism or property damage, a measure recently enacted in Italy.
As students protested in response to deteriorating school conditions and teacher shortages, they were also joined by individuals expressing frustration over rising living costs and proposed public spending cuts. In Italy, similar youth-led demonstrations emerged, some resulting in violence, with protesters clashing with police and setting fires to barricades.
In late September, the protests began in Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, where high school students voiced their concerns about government budget cuts affecting education. Their actions quickly spread to other cities, leading to hundreds of school closures during the first week of October. Public sector workers later joined the demonstrations to oppose planned pay freezes, broadening the protests further to include concerns about inflation, fuel prices, and shortages.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence associated with the protests, stating that “nothing justifies” such actions. He indicated that local authorities might prohibit certain gatherings if deemed necessary and announced the imposition of curfews in some areas.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands participated in protests across France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal, expressing discontent over the rising cost of living. While the protests in Milan began peacefully, they devolved into riots involving widespread looting and clashes with law enforcement. Similar unrest occurred in Bologna and Turin.
In response to escalating unrest, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government approved a series of measures, including the deployment of 500 soldiers to Milan for the remainder of the year and new financial liabilities for parents of minors involved in destructive behavior. The measures stipulate that individuals participating in groups of five or more that jeopardize public safety can face prison sentences of up to five years and fines as high as €20,000 (approximately $22,460). Additionally, minors aged 14 to 18 can be subjected to administrative detention if they pose a threat, even without having committed an offense.
Under Italian law, parents are already held liable for damages caused by their children. The recent decree strengthens this provision, allowing authorities to directly impose fines on parents or seize assets to cover damages resulting from their children’s actions.
In France, the legal framework similarly holds parents accountable for the actions of their children. Under Article 1242 of the French Civil Code, parents who live with their children are civilly liable for damages caused by their minors, and a recent amendment removed the requirement for cohabitation for this liability to apply. Compensation for damages can be enforced through civil proceedings, potentially leading to asset seizure if civil liability insurance does not cover the costs.
A new legislative proposal in France dubbed the “rioters pay” bill aims to address the damage caused by protests further. Set for debate on October 27, the bill would require those found responsible for vandalism to compensate victims up to €10,000 ($11,200), with parents potentially held liable for damages caused by minors.
Similar laws regarding parental financial responsibility for minors exist in several other countries, including Sweden and the United States, where parents can face civil lawsuits for damages caused by their children’s illegal actions.
