Individuals maintain a banner studying ‘Goodbye mate’ as they participate in a march in Lyon, France to pay tribute to Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old nationalist activist who died from a beating after a conflict between far-left and far-right supporters. File
| Picture Credit score: AP
About 3,000 individuals joined a march organised by far-right teams on Saturday (February 21, 2026) after a nationalist activist died from a beating within the French metropolis of Lyon, in an incident that highlighted a local weather of deep political tensions forward of subsequent yr’s presidential vote.
French President Emmanuel Macron known as for calm forward of the tribute to Quentin Deranque, 23, who died of mind accidents in a hospital final week. The demonstrations befell underneath heavy police scrutiny, with no main incidents reported.
“This can be a second of remembrance and respect for this younger compatriot who was killed, for his household and family members. That should come first. After which it’s a second of firmness and accountability,” Mr. Macron stated.
Seven individuals have been handed preliminary fees. The Lyon public prosecutor’s workplace requested that every of them be charged with intentional murder, aggravated violence and legal conspiracy. Six of the accused have been charged on all three counts. The seventh was charged with complicity in intentional murder, aggravated violence and legal conspiracy.
Deranque was attacked throughout a combat that erupted between far-left and far-right supporters on the margins of a scholar assembly the place a far-left lawmaker, Rima Hassan, was a keynote speaker.
Mr. Macron stated he’ll maintain a gathering with Ministers subsequent week to hold out a complete evaluate of all violent activist teams which have hyperlinks to political events. He hinted that some teams may very well be dismantled.
“Within the republic, no violence is respectable,” he stated. “There isn’t any place for militias, wherever they arrive from. We have to be completely uncompromising.”
Lyon emerges as a battleground
The principle tribute to Deranque befell in Lyon, the place clashes between far-right activists and far-left teams have turn out to be frequent. Their preventing usually takes the type of organised avenue battles within the metropolis, typically involving teams of a number of dozen individuals.
Lyon’s far-left-leaning militant teams are more moderen and have been created in response to the numerous far-right teams which have been current for a number of a long time. Town is seen by intelligence providers because the cradle of far-right activism in France.
Deranque’s mother and father additionally known as for calm and didn’t participate within the tribute, which was not banned by French authorities.
Deranque’s dying triggered a storm of recriminations, principally blaming the far-left France Unbowed get together and its chief, Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Among the many suspects is the parliamentary aide of a France Unbowed lawmaker who arrange the anti-fascist group The Younger Guard.
There was a minute’s silence earlier than the beginning of the march. Some demonstrators held white tulips and displayed stickers bearing the slogan: “Quentin, killed by Mélenchon’s militia.” Many males wearing black, some with their faces partially coated, joined the march. Christian Petiteau, 70, who traveled from the neighboring Isère area, stated Deranque was “cowardly murdered” and that he got here to honor his reminiscence.
Far-left in focus
France Unbowed’s opponents accuse it of fomenting violence and tensions with its combative far-left politics. Mr. Mélenchon has condemned the violence and insisted that his get together bore no blame for the tragedy.
Mr. Mélenchon stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022, however didn’t advance to the decisive runoff spherical. He’s making ready for one more anticipated run subsequent yr, when Mr. Macron’s second and final time period ends.
France is holding municipal elections subsequent month and right-wing political forces have been utilizing the incident to demonise France Unbowed. Far-right Nationwide Rally chief Jordan Bardella has known as for a typical entrance towards Mr. Mélenchon’s get together.
Criticism additionally got here from distinguished figures on the left, together with former French President François Hollande. He stated the mainstream left, together with his Socialist Get together, should not crew up once more with Mr. Mélenchon’s get together for the upcoming elections, as they did up to now.
Revealed – February 22, 2026 07:55 am IST