Mass Demonstrations After Quentin Deranque's Death. France Fears Escalation of Violence

The tragic death of Quentin Deranque, a mathematics student and activist in Catholic-traditionalist circles, has become a catalyst for a deep political crisis in France. The incident occurred on February 12 near the Sciences Po university in Lyon, where Deranque was protecting activists from the female identitarian collective Némésis. He was brutally attacked and beaten by a group linked to the antifascist milieu. The victim died two days later in hospital due to an extensive skull injury. The investigation has led to charges against seven men, including parliamentary assistants of MP Raphaël Arnault from the France Unbowed (LFI) party. Lyon has been an arena for clashes between the far right and left-wing militias for decades. As early as the 1970s, the city witnessed the formation of radical groups on both sides of the barricade, cementing its reputation as a center of identity-based political radicalism.President Emmanuel Macron, seeking to calm the mood, announced the convening of a special commission on groups using violence. Meanwhile, the right, led by Jordan Bardella, accuses the government of tolerating aggression by the "ultra-left," while distancing itself from any potential incidents during demonstrations. Washington also spoke out; the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism strongly condemned the perpetrators of the murder. The situation is complicated by reports linking the suspects to the militia "La Jeune Garde," which was banned in 2025, raising questions about the effectiveness of official measures against such organizations. The dominant media narrative suggests that this event could permanently alter the balance of power ahead of the 2027 elections, pushing the far left into the role of a political pariah. „Anyone who resorts to murder to silence a political opponent excludes themselves from civilized society.” — Sarah B. Rogers Meanwhile, in Rennes and other cities, counter-demonstrations by left-wing groups took place, forcing law enforcement to use force to prevent direct confrontations. Experts point to the phenomenon of "antifascist neurosis," which leads to the radicalization of methods under the pretext of fighting a supposed neo-Nazi threat. The Deranque case, described by some as the "French Charlie Kirk moment," is putting immense pressure on the Socialist Party, which must revise its local alliances with LFI ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.