France proposes 5% insurance levy on citizens to cover riot damage

09/08/2025 / By Laura Harris

The French government plans to introduce a five percent mandatory insurance surcharge on all property damage policies to fund a €775 million ($908 million) state-backed reinsurance fund to cover riot-related destruction.
Riot damages may now exceed €1 billion ($1.2 billion) annually, prompting the government to treat such destruction like natural disasters to stabilize the insurance market and prevent insurers from abandoning high-risk areas.
Two legal approaches are being considered to define a “riot” for insurance claims: either state-declared on a case-by-case basis or a fixed legal definition, both of which raise concerns over political bias or legal challenges.
Recent riots, including the 2023 near-destruction of Marseille’s Alcazar Library and 2025’s Paris riots, have been linked to disaffected youth from immigrant backgrounds, involving mass arson, looting and violent clashes with police.
Despite the widespread destruction, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin denies any link between immigration and the riots, a stance increasingly at odds with public sentiment and international observers.

The French government is reportedly preparing to introduce a five percent mandatory insurance surcharge on all property damage insurance contracts to cover the rising costs of riot-related destruction.

According to French financial newspaper Les Echos, the government wants to establish a state-backed reinsurance fund that would cover damage from civil unrest, similar to funds that currently exist for natural disasters like floods and fires. The new fund would be worth an estimated €775 million ($908 million) annually, with insurers expected to contribute €300 million ($352 million) and the rest effectively passed on to policyholders through increased premiums. (Related: French farmers dump manure on government buildings to protest climate hysteria.)

The total cost of riot-related damage in France may already exceed €1 billion ($1.2 billion) per year.

By treating riot-related damage in the same category as natural catastrophes, the state aims to provide a stable financial mechanism to address the fallout from unrest without forcing insurance companies to hike rates arbitrarily or pull out of high-risk neighborhoods entirely.

Thus, two legal paths are considered to define a “riot” for insurance payouts. First, a case-by-case declaration by the state, offering flexibility but potentially subject to political bias and another, a fixed legal definition, which could be challenged in courts as overly broad or vague.

“This option has the advantage of providing, on a case-by-case basis, a definitive definition of what constitutes a riot. But since the decision is made by the state, it could be subject to political or budgetary considerations,” Lawyer Romain Dupeyré said.

Government denies immigration link as riots leave historic landmarks in ashes and cities in chaos

Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch stated that France has long had a reputation for public protest, but recent years have seen a shift toward more destructive and prolonged riots, particularly in response to police actions, economic inequality and social tensions. These riots often include arson, looting and attacks on public infrastructure.

A number of these events have been linked to disaffected youth from immigrant backgrounds.

One of the most symbolic casualties of the 2023 riots was the Alcazar Library in Marseille, a historic building dating back centuries, nearly burned to the ground after being set ablaze by protesters. The attack came during a wave of riots that saw over 3,000 arrests, thousands of acts of arson and hundreds of police officers wounded. In one shocking incident, a burning vehicle was rammed into the home of a mayor, nearly killing his wife and children.

Earlier this year, a wave of riots engulfed the capital following a major football match, with over 264 cars torched, 692 arson cases and 192 injuries, including a police officer left in a coma. Two people died, one from stab wounds, another from a vehicle crash amid the chaos.

But despite all the scale of destruction, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin publicly denied any link between the riots and immigration.

Visit Rioting.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about a pro-Palestinian protest taking place in Paris, France.

This video is from Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.