After the weekend's violence in France, who will pay the bill? According to the government, “at least 3,000 businesses” were affected by damage or looting. The president of the network of chambers of commerce and industry in France (CCI France) Alain Di Crescenzo estimates the damage at “hundreds of millions of euros”.
In Bordeaux, “we have more than 80 businesses impacted, including 25 completely destroyed,” Patrick Seguin, director of the CCI Bordeaux-Gironde, explained this Monday to 20 Minutes. “Businesses will not be able to reopen for two weeks or three weeks, it’s catastrophic. »
Take a good look at your contract
Insurance companies are obviously on the front line, as they were during the urban violence of 2023. The cost of the riots represented 793 million euros, spread over 17,000 claims, or an average cost of 46,500 euros. Contacted by 20 Minutes, France Assureurs ensures that, regarding Saturday's damage, a crisis unit has been opened, "in contact with the public authorities in all territories".
For buildings and businesses that have been set on fire, stolen and/or damaged, “the material damage suffered will be covered according to the guarantees taken out”, and in particular the “riots and popular movements” guarantee, continues France Assureurs. “In principle, the law excludes riots from insurance contracts,” explains Paris bar lawyer Valentin Simonnet to 20 Minutes. This is why, in the vast majority of cases, policyholders have taken out warranty extensions to cover these riots. So you have to look at your contract. » Concerning the total or partial closure of businesses, the optional “operating losses” guarantee can compensate for the loss of their gross margin. But again, it all depends on the contract.
Emergency support measures
However, “the insurer can apply a deductible, and an obsolescence, so that you are never 100% compensated” adds the Parisian lawyer. For the remainder, “the merchant can turn against the State”. “The problem is that the State takes charge if the damage is linked to the declared demonstration. Acts committed by groups on the sidelines of a demonstration can thus constitute an exception allowing it not to cover. So, regarding the events of October 17, it will depend on the cases, and the place where the acts were committed, warns Valentin Simonnet. We saw it in New Caledonia [in May 2024], where looting committed in commercial areas on the sidelines of declared demonstrations was not taken care of.”
Alain Di Crescenzo, however, indicated that he would request emergency support measures for affected traders, in particular the establishment of intervention funds and the granting of loans at subsidized rates in order to help businesses cope with the damage. He will also request the use of partial unemployment, which Matignon announced on Monday, as well as a moratorium on social and tax charges.
The president of the Bordeaux-Gironde CCI for his part wishes to be able to release funds, it remains to be seen how. “I recommend a solidarity fund via tax-exempt donations from individuals,” says Patrick Seguin. The president of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Gironde, Nathalie Laporte, for her part, wishes to “reestablish a solidarity fund, a system of 1,500 euros, which can represent the amount of rent. Furthermore, we are launching an appeal for solidarity with craftsmen who could intervene quickly to carry out repairs, allowing businesses to reopen more quickly. »
The government has announced for its part that it will set up an exceptional fund to help communities rebuild destroyed public facilities.
“We can make the thugs pay, as long as their criminal responsibility is recognized”
Can the State, for its part, turn against the thugs? “Yes, it is the principle of civil liability: someone who commits a fault must repair the damage caused” answers Valentin Simonnet. “But the question is to prove that X stole from this or that store, especially when you have dozens of people, hooded, who entered it. We can therefore make the thugs pay, but as soon as they are arrested, judged and their criminal responsibility is recognized, knowing that if it is not complicated to arrest someone, it is more complicated to put together a criminal case leading to a conviction.
