Following violent protests against online taxi-booking service Uber, the French government has ordered a ban on UberPop, its ride-sharing app.
French President François Hollande, attending a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels, condemned the “unacceptable violence” of Thursday’s protests. Thousands of taxi drivers around the country caused chaos by blocking access to major airports and train stations and even setting fire to vehicles.
At the same time, Hollande told reporters he understood taxi drivers’ “exasperation” with UberPop, which allows ordinary drivers to offer low-cost rides without the legally-required training or insurance. It could also make it easier for those drivers to evade declaring their income for the service.
“UberPop should be dissolved and declared illegal, and the seizure of vehicles must be enforced,” Hollande told reporters. “The sooner these rulings are made, the simpler the situation will be, especially for taxis.”
The French government ruled UberPop illegal last year but the law has been difficult to enforce; Uber is currently appealing to the Constitutional Court to overturn it. The Court’s ruling is expected in October.
Germany has already been banned in Germany on similar concerns.
French Taxi drivers burn tires as they protest in the southern city of Marseille on June 25, 2015 as they demonstrate against UberPOP, a popular taxi app that is facing fierce opposition from traditional cabs. Anne-Christine Poujoulat—AFP/Getty ImagesPolice officers in riot gear attempt to flip a car back onto it's wheels at Porte Maillot on June 25, 2015 in Paris. Protesters blocked roads to airports and train stations, overturning cars and setting tires on fire.Guillaume de Senneville—Demotix/CorbisHundreds of taxi drivers gather next to the Olympia Stadium to protest ride-sharing apps on June 11, 2014 in Berlin.Sean Gallup—Getty ImagesA demonstrator kicks a car, suspected of being a private taxi during a 24 hour taxi strike and protest in Madrid on June 11, 2014. Paul White—APA taxi driver listens to speeches by his colleagues, during an Europe-wide protest of licensed taxi drivers against taxi hailing apps that are feared to flush unregulated private drivers into the market, in front of the Olympic stadium in Berlin on June 11, 2014. Thomas Peter—ReutersTaxi drivers hold a banner during a protest in Barcelona on June 11, 2014. Josep Lago—AFP/Getty ImagesLondon taxi's line up on The Mall during a protest against a new smart phone app, 'Uber' on June 11, 2014 in London.Dan Kitwood—Getty ImagesTaxi drivers park their cars and honk the horn in protest on Pennsylvania Avenue, bringing street traffic to a stop as they demand an end to ride sharing services such as Uber X and Lyft on June 25, 2014, in Washington.PAUL J. RICHARDS—AFP/Getty ImagesAn Italian taxi driver distributes leaflets reading "Don't take an illegal taxi, take a white regular taxi" during a protest on June 11, 2014 in Rome.ANDREAS SOLARO—AFP/Getty ImagesTaxis drivers block a highway outside Paris, near Roissy on June 11, 2014, as they take part in a demonstration to protest the growing number of minicabs, known in France as Voitures de Tourisme avec Chauffeurs (VTC). Fred Dufour—AFP/Getty Images
