The “ultra-left” in France was behind the fatal beating of a French youth aligned with the far right, the Justice Minister said on Sunday (February 15, 2026), after the killing inflamed political tension in the country ahead of elections.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin also accused hard-left politicians, including from the France Unbowed (LFI) party, the largest left-wing faction in parliament, of fuelling violence with their language.
The victim, Quentin Deranque, aged 23, had been hospitalised and placed into a coma on Thursday (February 12, 2026) after being attacked in the southeastern city of Lyon. The office of the Lyon prosecutor on Saturday (February 14, 2026) told AFP Deranque had died of his wounds.
Supporters said he had been providing security at a protest against an appearance by Rima Hassan, an LFI member of the European Parliament, when he was assaulted by a gang of rival activists.
Investigators are working on identifying the perpetrators, the prosecutors’ office said Sunday (February 15, 2026). An investigation has been opened into suspected aggravated manslaughter
