Businesses damaged in demonstrations

At least 3,000 businesses were damaged during the October 17, 2026 demonstrations, including several independent bookstores such as Momie Manga in Grenoble, Manga Story, La Belle Lurette, and Comme un roman in Paris, À Pleins Rêves in Nantes, and Fnac stores in Lille and Nantes. These incidents add to the targeted attacks that independent bookstores have faced since 2025 due to the books they defend.

Legal consequences for damage

The affected bookstores have legal recourse through insurance, state responsibility, and emergency aid. The Penal Code imposes penalties for destruction or damage to property, including up to two years in prison and a 30,000 euro fine for individual acts, and up to five years and 75,000 euros for group acts. Intentional arson can result in up to ten years in prison.

Criminal route and compensation

The criminal route rarely provides compensation, but it remains essential for insurers to process claims, especially for theft, and for establishing a civil party to recover damages. However, perpetrators are often unknown or insolvent. The service for assisting victims in recovering their losses can facilitate the enforcement of a conviction, but actual compensation will first have to go through other means.

Insurance coverage and claims

Looting is not considered a natural disaster under the Insurance Code, which covers damages caused by natural agents like flooding or earthquakes. Instead, it is a human act, and the insurer's coverage depends on the interpretation of the contract. Most multi-risk professional insurance policies include a guarantee for riots and popular movements, but with their own limits and deductibles.

Insurance process and documentation

France Assureurs has increased the declaration period to 30 days for theft and other incidents, and promised quick advances. The insured can hire their own expert if there is a disagreement on the valuation. Costs incurred to secure the premises, such as boards, security guards, or cleaning, must be kept with their invoices, and France Assureurs has committed to covering them.

State responsibility and liability

Once the compensation is paid, the insurer will turn against the perpetrators and the state. The state is civilly responsible for damages resulting from crimes and offenses committed with force or violence by gatherings or assemblies, according to the Internal Security Code. The Grenoble bookstore Momie Manga, attacked by a group estimated to be 200 people, falls within this framework.

Government financial support

The government announced a zero-interest loan of up to 50,000 euros, operated by Bpifrance, available from October 23 on a simple declaration of damage. This is supplemented by a support fund for companies with fewer than 50 employees and the spreading of tax and social charges. Local authorities, such as the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, provide lump-sum aid of 10,000 euros per affected business, and some banks offer a moratorium on loan payments.

Legislative proposals and debates

The "vandal-payer" bill, examined by the Senate starting October 27, would establish collective civil liability for participants in an assembly. This will raise constitutional debates, like the 1970 anti-vandal law, repealed in 1981. No specific measures for books have yet been announced, but a similar measure dedicated to restocking could benefit bookstores targeted by ideological attacks.

Employment adjustments for victims

Part-time activity allows employers to suspend or reduce activity without breaking employment contracts. The Labor Code authorizes it in the case of a disaster or an exceptional circumstance, such as the destruction of a bookstore. The nine employees of Momie Manga were placed on part-time activity the day after the incident.

Government commitment and next steps

The Prime Minister has announced full coverage for damaged businesses, but the details remain to be specified. The bookstore owner must file a complaint, declare the damage, request part-time activity, and apply for the Bpifrance loan within the following days. They must also keep videos, photos, and inventory status, and then claim from the state what the insurance did not pay.

Industry efforts to assess damage

The French Bookstore Union and Paris Bookstores are currently compiling the damages: their assessment will weigh in the acquisition of a specific aid for books.