French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to refrain from commenting on France’s internal affairs, following her remarks on the killing of a French far-right activist in Lyon.
The activist, Quentin Deranque, a mathematics student, died on Saturday after being injured in a clash between opposing political groups. French authorities detained 11 suspects, with most reportedly linked to left-wing movements. Meloni had described the incident as “a wound for all of Europe” and warned of a spreading “climate of ideological hatred.”
In response, Macron stated on Thursday during a trip to New Delhi that while violence is never justified, national leaders should “stay in their own lane.” He suggested that nationalist politicians, who oppose foreign interference in their own countries, are often quick to criticize events in other nations.
Meloni later expressed surprise at Macron’s reaction, clarifying that her focus was on societal polarization risks, not interfering in France. “Interference is something different,” she told Sky TG24.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin attributed the killing to “ultra-left” activists. Deranque’s supporters called his death a “lynching,” claiming they were attacked by a mob while protesting an event hosted by a politician from the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). A video circulating online shows a physical confrontation, with individuals striking a man on the ground.
Legal proceedings have commenced. The Lyon prosecutor’s office announced that two men have been charged with murder. Additionally, Jacques-Elie Favrot, an aide to an LFI legislator, faces charges of “complicity by instigation.” La France Insoumise has denied any connection to the crime and accused authorities of “political manipulation.”
The incident has heightened political tensions between France and Italy, underscoring the volatile intersection of domestic extremism and international diplomacy. The judicial investigation into Deranque’s death continues, with outcomes likely to influence political discourse on political violence and rhetoric across Europe.
