French President Francois Hollande has called for the UberPOP ride-sharing service to be shut down after demonstrations against it by striking taxi drivers turned violent.
Speaking after a late-night session at a summit of European leaders, Hollande repeated the position of his government that UberPOP, which allows ordinary drivers to earn money by giving rides without the training or insurance required by law, is illegal. Registered taxi drivers allege that the UberPOP operates also makes it too easy for drivers to avoid declaring their income from the service.
UberPOP has already been banned in Germany, Europe’s largest market, on similar concerns.
“UberPOP must be dissolved and declared illegal, and the seizure of vehicles must be enforced…when authorised by judicial rulings,” Hollande said. “The sooner these rulings are made, the simpler the situation will be.”
He added that he understood the “exasperation” of those affected by the strikes, and condemned the violence.
Uber is currently disputing a new law that banned the service from the start of this year. It is continuing to offer the service (which has some 400,000 drivers) while it appeals to the Constitutional Court. The Court is expected to rule in October. In part, yesterday’s demonstrations were an expression of frustration at Uber’s ability to delay the enforcement of the law thanks to its deep pockets, filled by backers such as Google Inc. (GOOG) and Goldman Sachs & Co. (GS).
The strikes had caused chaos at major transport hubs around Paris and elsewhere Thursday, blocking access roads to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports as well as the Gare de Lyon station that is one of Paris’ busiest terminals. The publicity from the strikes took on new dimensions when the former singer and widow of Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, took to Twitter to describe an attack on the car that was carrying her.
Ms. Love was still in fighting mood Friday, if displaying what the French might think of as a regrettable lack of perspective.
UberPOP claims some 400,000 drivers in France. Under the new law, unregistered drivers can face up to a year in prison, the seizure of their car, and a $16,500 fine.
