France 24 reported Tuesday that a proposed French bill would make people responsible for damage during the Oct. 17 riots pay for it, as debate also focused on whether vandals had ultra-left affiliations.
CCI Hérault’s president said about 50 businesses in Montpellier were damaged, including 14 that were looted, according to an earlier account of the damage. The chamber identified merchants and employees among those affected.
The riots followed demonstrations over rising prices. In an Oct. 18 address, President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the cost pressures behind the protests and distinguished those who marched from people who damaged property.
Macron said Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu planned discussions during the week of Oct. 19 with people from education, labor, business, local government and Parliament, as described in an earlier report on the planned discussions.
