French president François Hollande on Friday condemned violent protests against ride-booking app Uber after taxi drivers set fire to vehicles and blocked highways, but added that the low-cost UberPOP amateur chauffeur service should be dismantled, reports FRANCE 24.
Speaking at summit of EU leaders in Brussels, Hollande described the demonstrations as "unacceptable violence in a democracy, in a country like France."
However, the French president added that "UberPOP should be dismantled and declared illegal."
An October law made the company's UberPOP service illegal, with penalties up to two years in prison and fines up to 300,000 euros for non-registered drivers who pick up fares. But Uber appealed to French administrative courts, arguing that the law went against the freedom of entrepreneurship.
On Tuesday, the case was deferred to France’s constitutional council, which has three months to make a final ruling.
Throughout all the legal manoeuvring, UberPOP drivers have continued to provide rides in France – much to the ire of traditional taxi drivers.
Simmering anger appeared to boil over on Thursday, with demonstrations turning violent in some areas of Paris. French TV stations broadcasted images of burning tyres blocking sections of the ring road, overturned vehicles and scuffles between cabbies and other drivers.
The strike was not limited to the French capital, with an estimated 2,800 taxi drivers taking part nationwide.
In the south of France, cabbies set up barriers around Marseille and Aix-en Provence, blocking motorway exits and cutting off access to train stations in the two cities.