French Parliament Approves Law to Restrict Violent Protests, Reports Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) – On Tuesday, France’s parliament approved a bill designed to limit violent protests, responding to three months of anti-government demonstrations led by the grassroots “yellow vests” movement.

Despite concerns regarding potential infringements on civil liberties, the legislation passed in the national assembly with a vote of 387 to 92, largely due to the substantial majority held by President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, LREM. The bill will now move to the upper house for discussion, although the assembly retains final authority.

The “anti-casseurs” (anti-hooligan) law prohibits protesters from concealing their faces, empowers police to remove individuals deemed likely to incite trouble from protests, and allows local authorities to prohibit specific individuals from participating in demonstrations.

The “yellow vest” movement began in November as a protest against fuel tax increases but has since evolved into a wider outcry against social inequality and the Macon administration. The movement derives its name from the bright vests that French motorists are required to keep in their vehicles.

During initial protests in Paris, rioters caused significant turmoil, setting vehicles ablaze, vandalizing luxury shops, and damaging the Arc de Triomphe. This violence is regarded as some of the worst the city has seen since the student uprisings of 1968.