The French government accused the radical left of fostering a climate of violence in the middle of the pre-campaign for the municipal elections in March, after the death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right youth, victim of an attack with no perpetrators yet identified.The event occurred on Thursday afternoon in Lyon, on the sidelines of a protest organized by far-right groups against a university lecture given by MEP RimaHassan, a member of La Francia Insumisa (LFI).
The Lyon prosecutor’s office, represented by Thierry Dran, confirmed that the case is being investigated as “voluntary manslaughter” and that, so far, no arrests have been made, although the police have questioned around fifteen witnesses.According to the public ministry, at least six hooded individuals participated in the attack that led to the death of Deranque, who suffered severe head trauma and died after two days in a coma.
The event revived the political confrontation between the extreme right and the radical left.Center-right government spokesperson Maud Bregeon attributed “moral responsibility” to LFI, noting that the party has “encouraged a climate of violence for years.”
For its part, the far right blamed the attack on militants from the anti-fascist group Jeune Garde, officially dissolved in 2023 and co-founded by LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault before taking his seat.Both the group and the parliamentary assistant Jacques-Elie Favrot, indicated by some media as allegedly involved, denied any participation in the events.Favrota announced that he will provisionally abandon his duties while the investigation progresses.
According to witnesses and verified videos broadcast by media such as TF1, a dozen people attacked three young people, two of whom managed to flee.The use of metal bars was reported in the confrontation and images show Deranque on the ground, receiving a kick to the head.The autopsy confirmed the origin of the injuries and ruled out immediate death.
The incident unleashed a wave of reproaches against LFI and its leader, Jean-LucMélenchon, who rejected any involvement and denounced attempts to link his party to violence.However, the political climate became tense with criticism from most parties, which questioned the tone of the leftist formation and the public support that it has sometimes expressed towards groups such as Jeune Garde.
Deranque’s death is emerging as a key axis of the campaign for the municipal elections, considered a thermometer for the 2027 presidential elections, in which Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party (RN) appear as favorites in the polls.Le Pen’s candidacy remains on hold due to a conviction for embezzlement of public funds, pending an appeal ruling scheduled for July.If the disqualification is confirmed, Jordan Bardell is positioned as a possible successor, with a recent poll placing him as the preferred figure among the French electorate.
The investigation for “voluntary manslaughter” remains open, with no public indications regarding the identification of those responsible or arrests to date, while political polarization deepens ahead of the next elections.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
