activist killing becomes flashpoint in French politics
Nine suspects have been arrested in the investigation into the killing of right-wing activist Quentin Deranque, a case that has intensified tensions between France’s far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March, and the presidential election in 2027.
Issued on: 18/02/2026 - RFI
Nine suspects have been arrested in the investigation into the killing of right-wing activist Quentin Deranque, a case that has intensified tensions between France’s far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March, and the presidential election in 2027.
Issued on: 18/02/2026 - RFI
Lawmakers in the National Assembly observe a minute of silence on Tuesday after the death of identitarian activist Quentin Deranque. © AFP/Alain Jocard
Deranque, 23, died from a severe brain injury after being attacked by at least six people last week in Lyon, on the sidelines of a conference by MEP Rima Hassan, of the hard-left party France Unbowed (LFI), at the university Sciences Po Lyon.
Prosecutors say six of the nine people detained on Tuesday are suspected of taking part in the beating, while three others were present during the arrests but are not suspected of assault.
Among those in custody is Jacques-Elie Favrot, a parliamentary assistant to LFI lawmaker Raphaël Arnault. Favrot was arrested in the Isère region of southeastern France after being named by witnesses.
Arnault said the assistant had “ceased all parliamentary activities” and that procedures to terminate his contract had begun, saying he was “horrified” by the killing.
Parliament backlash
The case dominated questions to the government on Tuesday in the National Assembly, France’s lower house, where lawmakers observed a minute of silence for Deranque.
“No one should die at 23. No one should die for their ideas,” assembly president Yaël Braun-Pivet said. “In all our names, I extend our thoughts to his family and loved ones.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu criticised LFI parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot, saying: "It is time for you to clean up your statements, your ideas, and above all your ranks.”
Meanwhile Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin blamed the killing on what he called the "ultra-left".
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon called on LFI to suspend Arnault from its parliamentary group “at least temporarily” – citing what she said were links between La Jeune Garde Antifasciste (Anti-Fascist Young Guard), a group co-founded by Arnault in Lyon in 2018 and dissolved by authorities in June.
Killing of far-right activist triggers turmoil across French political spectrum
The Lyon public prosecutor declined to address the political accusations, confirming only that the case is being investigated as voluntary homicide and aggravated assault.
Deranque was beaten on the sidelines of a demonstration organised by Némésis, an identitarian collective close to the far right that says it protects women. The group said Deranque had been acting as security for its members.
Némésis blamed the killing on the Anti-Fascist Young Guard, but the group denied any connection to what it called the “tragic events”.
A video said to show the attack appears to show around a dozen people hitting three individuals lying on the ground, two of whom manage to escape.
Deranque, 23, died from a severe brain injury after being attacked by at least six people last week in Lyon, on the sidelines of a conference by MEP Rima Hassan, of the hard-left party France Unbowed (LFI), at the university Sciences Po Lyon.
Prosecutors say six of the nine people detained on Tuesday are suspected of taking part in the beating, while three others were present during the arrests but are not suspected of assault.
Among those in custody is Jacques-Elie Favrot, a parliamentary assistant to LFI lawmaker Raphaël Arnault. Favrot was arrested in the Isère region of southeastern France after being named by witnesses.
Arnault said the assistant had “ceased all parliamentary activities” and that procedures to terminate his contract had begun, saying he was “horrified” by the killing.
Parliament backlash
The case dominated questions to the government on Tuesday in the National Assembly, France’s lower house, where lawmakers observed a minute of silence for Deranque.
“No one should die at 23. No one should die for their ideas,” assembly president Yaël Braun-Pivet said. “In all our names, I extend our thoughts to his family and loved ones.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu criticised LFI parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot, saying: "It is time for you to clean up your statements, your ideas, and above all your ranks.”
Meanwhile Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin blamed the killing on what he called the "ultra-left".
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon called on LFI to suspend Arnault from its parliamentary group “at least temporarily” – citing what she said were links between La Jeune Garde Antifasciste (Anti-Fascist Young Guard), a group co-founded by Arnault in Lyon in 2018 and dissolved by authorities in June.
Killing of far-right activist triggers turmoil across French political spectrum
The Lyon public prosecutor declined to address the political accusations, confirming only that the case is being investigated as voluntary homicide and aggravated assault.
Deranque was beaten on the sidelines of a demonstration organised by Némésis, an identitarian collective close to the far right that says it protects women. The group said Deranque had been acting as security for its members.
Némésis blamed the killing on the Anti-Fascist Young Guard, but the group denied any connection to what it called the “tragic events”.
A video said to show the attack appears to show around a dozen people hitting three individuals lying on the ground, two of whom manage to escape.
Death of activist Quentin Deranque: nine suspects arrested, including assistant to LFI lawmaker Raphaël Arnault. © AFP
'Wind turning' on hard left
RFI political correspondent Raphaël Delvolve said criticism now directed at LFI echoed language once used against the far right. Hanane Mansouri, an ally of the far-right National Rally said: “I think the wind is turning.”
She added: “Everyone is starting to see the anti-democratic face of France Unbowed and the methods it uses by normalising violence."
Her party colleague Philippe Ballard said the far-right party had shown it could act differently. “We have always shown that we work seriously and that we are not driven by emotion or violence."
LFI lawmaker Alma Dufour rejected the accusations against her party. “There will never be any tolerance in our movement for violent methods like this,” she said.
Paris prosecutor calls for trial over alleged arms trafficking with far-right links
At a press conference on Tuesday, National Rally president Jordan Bardella accused LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of political and moral responsibility, saying he had “opened the doors of the National Assembly to presumed killers”.
Speaking at a rally Tuesday evening, Mélenchon condemned the killing and denied his party was involved. “Death has no place in political disputes. In violence, whether defensive or offensive, not everything is allowed."
He also rejected the idea that Deranque had been there by chance. The activist had come with “the deliberate intention of linking his action to that of a militia”, Mélenchon added.
Marine Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate for the National Rally, condemned those she called the “barbarians responsible for this lynching”.
With President Emmanuel Macron barred from seeking a third term in 2027, Bardella currently leads opinion polls to succeed him
'Wind turning' on hard left
RFI political correspondent Raphaël Delvolve said criticism now directed at LFI echoed language once used against the far right. Hanane Mansouri, an ally of the far-right National Rally said: “I think the wind is turning.”
She added: “Everyone is starting to see the anti-democratic face of France Unbowed and the methods it uses by normalising violence."
Her party colleague Philippe Ballard said the far-right party had shown it could act differently. “We have always shown that we work seriously and that we are not driven by emotion or violence."
LFI lawmaker Alma Dufour rejected the accusations against her party. “There will never be any tolerance in our movement for violent methods like this,” she said.
Paris prosecutor calls for trial over alleged arms trafficking with far-right links
At a press conference on Tuesday, National Rally president Jordan Bardella accused LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of political and moral responsibility, saying he had “opened the doors of the National Assembly to presumed killers”.
Speaking at a rally Tuesday evening, Mélenchon condemned the killing and denied his party was involved. “Death has no place in political disputes. In violence, whether defensive or offensive, not everything is allowed."
He also rejected the idea that Deranque had been there by chance. The activist had come with “the deliberate intention of linking his action to that of a militia”, Mélenchon added.
Marine Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate for the National Rally, condemned those she called the “barbarians responsible for this lynching”.
With President Emmanuel Macron barred from seeking a third term in 2027, Bardella currently leads opinion polls to succeed him
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