France - free money frenzy

Government slams “free money” stunt

Article published on the 2009-11-16 Latest update 2009-11-16 15:57 TU

Crowds near the Champ de Mars waiting for free money on 14 November 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

French government spokesperson Luc Chatel has condemned Saturday’s free money publicity stunt as being “totally irresponsible”. He said, “we cannot allow this event to have happened without reacting.” He added that the state was investigating the possibility of legal action.

Internet company Mailorama.fr planned to throw envelopes of cash to passers-by from the top of a bus in Paris, but ended up cancelling the stunt for security reasons after thousands of people turned up.

“I think this is a completely irresponsible operation. I also believe it shows a rather worrying use of the internet for commercial ends," said Chatel.

Around 7,000 people gathered near the Eiffel tower before the planned handout.

"Given the serious traffic problems noted in the Champ de Mars area and significant crowd movements, the police requested that the organisers did not go ahead with this distribution of money," said a police spokesman.

Finance Minister Christine Lagarde criticised the publicity stunt claiming that "money is won by hard work". But the stunt clearly worked for Mailorama.fr, and Stephane Boukirs, the event organiser, said they were, "a victim" of their own success.

People had waited for hours and the cancellation provoked a violent reaction with shop windows smashed and at least one car overturned. Ten people were arrested after riot police were called in.

Slideshow: Laurent Garric (Flickr)