A thousands-strong far-right march in Lyon is expected by the police, to commemorate 23-year-old activist Quentin Deranque, who died following a violent street brawl between ultranationalist and anti-fascist groups. The case has ignited a political firestorm in France after a parliamentary aide to the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party was charged with complicity in the killing. The far-right National Rally (RN) is using the tragedy to paint the left as a primary source of political violence. The event has drawn international attention, with right-wing leaders across Europe and officials in the U.S. expressing concern over rising “radical leftism.” As tensions escalate ahead of March municipal elections, observers warn of a coordinated effort by the transnational far-right to delegitimize the French left through this high-profile death.
Date: February 20, 2026. Source: france24.com