Far-Right Activist's Death Sparks Political Tensions in France Ahead of Elections
The death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old mathematics student, has ignited fierce political divisions in France, casting a shadow over upcoming municipal elections and next year's presidential race. French police have launched a murder inquiry after Deranque, a far-right activist, died in hospital from a severe brain injury following a brutal assault in Lyon.
Details of the Attack and Investigation
According to the Lyon prosecutor, Thierry Dran, Deranque was attacked by at least six masked individuals on Thursday. The assault occurred on the sidelines of a protest against a university conference attended by Rima Hassan, a European member of parliament for Jean-Luc Mélenchon's leftwing party, La France Insoumise (LFI). Police are actively working to identify suspects, and no arrests have been made so far.
Deranque's family lawyer stated to French media that the student appeared to have been ambushed by "organised and trained individuals, vastly superior in number and armed, some with their faces masked." The lawyer further clarified to Le Monde that Deranque was not part of any security organisation, had no criminal record, and defended his political convictions "in a non-violent way."
Political Fallout and Accusations
The death has exacerbated existing political tensions in France. The LFI party, which Mélenchon describes as "radical left," was officially labelled as "far left" by the French interior ministry this month, ahead of local elections in March. This labelling has been protested by LFI and Socialist party leader Olivier Faure.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon accused LFI of having "encouraged a climate of violence for years," suggesting a moral responsibility on the part of the party for the attack. In response, LFI lawmaker Éric Coquerel condemned "all political violence" and asserted that security activists for Hassan's event were not involved.
Witness Accounts and Demonstrations
A video broadcast by TF1 allegedly shows the attack, depicting a group hitting three individuals on the ground, with two escaping and one lying motionless. A witness told Agence France-Presse, "People were hitting each other with iron bars."
In the aftermath, far-right demonstrations in memory of Deranque have taken place in Montpellier and Paris, where protesters unfurled a banner reading "antifa murderers, justice for Quentin."
Call for Calm and Justice
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the incident on social media, stating, "It is essential that the perpetrators of this ignominy be prosecuted, brought to justice and convicted. Hatred that kills has no place among us. I call for calm, restraint and respect."
The Nemesis collective, an anti-immigration group close to the far right that was protesting the conference, claimed Deranque was present to protect its members as security and was assaulted by anti-fascist activists. This incident underscores the volatile political climate in France as election seasons approach, with debates over extremism and violence taking centre stage.
