Darmanin seeks parent payout Insurance and legal limits

Oct 2

France 2 reports Gérald Darmanin's call to hold parents civilly liable for minors' school-protest damage. He says prosecutors seek that liability when schools, bus shelters or transport are destroyed, and hopes judges will agree. The report cites growing national repair costs and a preliminary two-million-euro estimate for one Nantes school. It explains offender identification and responsibility, and a legal expert says insurance commonly excludes damage during riots or popular movements unless separately negotiated. Parents could then have to pay directly, provided they are solvent. Interviewees disagree over whether parents or children should bear the cost. The report ends by recalling the government's months-old advocacy of an additional insurance contribution for riot repairs; it does not say that levy or new liability legislation was enacted.

On RTL on October 2, Darmanin says he asked chief prosecutors to have prosecutors seek swift, firm responses and parents' joint civil liability for damage caused by minors during the school unrest. He says an existing law permits repair costs to be sought from parents, considers that more useful than detention except in extreme cases, and explicitly leaves success dependent on judges accepting prosecutors' applications. He says only one adult has been remanded, explains that immediate trials are unavailable for minors and that the PJJ should implement judicial measures promptly, and calls on parents to take responsibility. He warns of possible urban violence while recognizing legitimate youth concerns. Vremya's same-day retelling says the minister urged parents to remove children from the streets and warned adults would answer for damage. No new law, completed compensation award or future outbreak of violence is established. France 2's October 2 report quotes the same RTL call and investigates its practical limits. It describes rising repair costs and a preliminary €2 million Nantes-school estimate, explains the need to identify responsible offenders, and quotes a legal expert saying ordinary insurance commonly excludes riots or popular movements unless negotiated. Parents might therefore pay directly only if solvent. Interviewees disagree over whether parents or children should bear costs. The report recalls a months-old proposal for an extra insurance contribution; it establishes neither enactment of that levy nor a completed compensation award.