Anger of farmers: damaged roads, slurry on facades… how much is the damage and who will pay for it ?

Des dégradations dans le Gard lors des manifestations des agriculteurs. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

Lors des rassemblements et manifestations des agriculteurs, de nombreux dégâts ont été engendrés sur les routes, les autoroutes, mais aussi sur des façades de bâtiments.

The mobilization of farmers has been large-scale, although it is not yet completely over. Between the deteriorated roads and the facades covered with slurry, for certain motorway groups or institutions, the time has come to take stock. Two questions now arise: how much is the damage and who will pay ?

How much ?

The anger of farmers was very virulent, throughout France. This was noted by numerous damages such as roads damaged by trucks falling into the ditch, supermarket shelves overturned, multiple fires lit, or even the spreading of slurry on facades, reports France 3. But concretely, what estimate can we have of the damage ?

For the moment, this amount is difficult to quantify due to the lack of data whether for businesses or the motorway network. "The immediate cost of interventions is covered by road network managers (department, municipalities, State (DIRA, DIRCO), Vinci (motorway) for Vienne. When the crisis is over, it is likely that road managers will contact the State to request compensation", explains the prefecture of Poitiers.

The priority seems to be cleaning the roads in order to restore traffic but also safety. Please note that road managers have the appropriate equipment. "We will not comment at this stage regarding the amount of damage, especially in the heart of the city. a crisis", however, Vinci said in a press release.

Who will pay ?

While the amount of damage is not yet calculable, can we know who will have to open the wallet ? Here again, it is difficult to know who will reimburse the damage caused, and this question seems to divide. "Farmers cannot be held responsible if a truck takes a road that is not suitable for its weight", indicates Nicolas Turquois, MP Democrat of Vienna.

Another member of the department believes that the State must take a part, but not the majority. According to her, "justice could be the right mediator to know who should pay". But the opinion is not shared by everyone. "They do damage, they take responsibility. So the money is to be taken from the subsidies that we are going to give them", says a resident of Poitiers.

A more legal response may, however, be provided. "By default, it is the State which must compensate for damage committed during 'gatherings or gatherings'", indicates a lawyer in public law at the Paris bar, cited by actu.fr.  

"The State is civilly liable for damages resulting from crimes and offenses committed, with open force or violence, by gatherings or gatherings armed or unarmed, either against people or against property", is it noted in article L. 211-10 of the Security Code interior (CSI).