France: Prosecutors Investigate Revival of Dissolved Militant Group Jeune Garde

The Paris prosecutor's office has intensified actions against the organization "La Jeune Garde" after receiving an official notification from the Ministry of the Interior. The ministry suspects that, despite the formal dissolution of the group last summer, its members continue coordinated activities under new banners. The situation became critical after the events of February 12 in Lyon, where 23-year-old Quentin Deranque was brutally beaten by a group of masked perpetrators. Surveillance footage revealed the scale of the aggression, and the victim died in hospital two days later due to extensive head injuries. Seven individuals have already been detained during the investigation and charged with murder. Political controversy stems from the fact that among those suspected of complicity is a parliamentary assistant to Raphaël Arnault, a member of parliament for the La France insoumise (LFI) party. Arnault himself, one of the founders of Jeune Garde, has officially distanced himself from the violence, but President Emmanuel Macron has called on political parties to clearly declare their position on extremist militias. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon described the LFI leaders' attitude towards the media as "totalitarian," after Jean-Luc Mélenchon organized a press conference excluding traditional editorial offices. France has been grappling with increasing political polarization for years, which regularly escalates into street clashes between identitarian and anti-fascist groups. Since 2017, authorities have dissolved nearly 30 extremist organizations.Parallel to security tensions, the National Assembly proceeded to a crucial vote on the draft bill concerning end-of-life assistance. The debate has sparked strong public emotions, as evidenced by demonstrations outside parliament that ended with 38 arrests. Although the initial version of the text gained broad support, introduced amendments, including allowing medical staff to administer the substance, have led to fractures within the ruling coalition. The outcome of the final vote remains uncertain and may depend on the votes of individual parliamentarians.