French President Emmanuel Macron has rebuked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for commenting on the death of 23-year-old nationalist activist Quentin Deranque, who was fatally beaten in Lyon following clashes linked to a far-left demonstration.
According to remarks cited by Corriere della Sera, Macron, speaking from New Delhi during an official visit to India, urged foreign leaders to refrain from intervening in French domestic affairs.
“Let everyone stay at home, and the sheep will be well looked after,” Macron quipped. “I am always struck by the fact that nationalists, who do not want to be disturbed in their own country, are the first to comment on what happens elsewhere.”
Meloni had earlier written on X that “the death of a young man in his early twenties, attacked by groups linked to left-wing extremism and swept away by a climate of ideological hatred that spans several nations, is a wound for the whole of Europe.”
She added, “No political idea, no ideological opposition can justify violence or turn confrontation into physical aggression. When hatred and violence replace dialogue, democracy always loses.”
L’uccisione del giovane Quentin Deranque in Francia è un fatto che sconvolge e addolora profondamente.
La morte di un ragazzo poco più che ventenne, aggredito da gruppi riconducibili all’estremismo di sinistra e travolto da un clima di odio ideologico che attraversa diverse… pic.twitter.com/F7vzDhT9X8
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) February 18, 2026Deranque, a 23-year-old mathematics student, died in the hospital two days after being beaten and kicked in the head by a group of masked attackers in Lyon. The assault occurred following a small demonstration by nationalist feminists at the city’s Institute of Political Studies, where the far-left La France Insoumise party MEP Rima Hassan was holding an event. Deranque had been helping provide protection at the event.
🇫🇷✝️After Antifa thugs beat 23-year-old Quentin Deranque to death in Lyon, a friend of Quentin describes the premeditated ambush attack against them.
"There must have been around 40 of them, between 30 and 40. Armed with metal knuckle gloves, some had sticks or even used what… pic.twitter.com/zCtyWhKF1B
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) February 17, 2026Investigators say at least six individuals took part in the attack. State prosecutor Thierry Dran told a news conference that Deranque suffered fatal damage to his skull and brain as a result of repeated blows.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the killing. Among those detained is Jacques-Elie Favrot, a parliamentary assistant at the National Assembly for a deputy from La France Insoumise, the party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Those suspected of involvement have been described as militants linked to La Jeune Garde, a far-left group that has been banned by French authorities.
The case has placed significant pressure on La France Insoumise and its leadership. Mélenchon denied any connection between his party and the attack.
🇫🇷After Antifa brutally beat conservative activist Quentin Deranque to death in Lyon, far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon incredibly calls to ban the feminist group Collectif Némésis – the same group Deranque was providing security for when he lost his life.
"The Collectif… pic.twitter.com/S4qwW9t7Cc
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) February 18, 2026“Our party has nothing to do with this story. Those who accuse us are committing a libel,” he said. “We express our consternation, but also our empathy and compassion for [Deranque’s] family and friends. We have said dozens of times that we oppose all forms of violence.”
However, the killing has prompted strong reactions from figures on the French right and demands for Mélenchon to face up to the consequences of his party’s rhetoric and self-proclaimed “anti-fascist” agenda. Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, told CNews, “Quentin’s death is a turning point.”
🇫🇷 @J_Bardella: "Quentin's death is a turning point."
"Jean-Luc Mélenchon has a lot to answer for. His political movement has created a breeding ground for ultra-violent groups, and the far-left must now be held accountable." pic.twitter.com/qcFgIl2YzY
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) February 18, 2026“Jean-Luc Mélenchon has a lot to answer for. His political movement has created a breeding ground for ultra-violent groups, and the far-left must now be held accountable,” Bardella said.
Éric Zemmour, leader of Reconquête, described the murder as part of a broader historical pattern. “We have to stop blaming our society. It’s indicative of the degree of violence of the far left over the last 100 years,” he told reporters.
Right-wing MEP Marion Maréchal also criticized Macron’s remarks, suggesting that the issue of political violence carries particular resonance in Italy and France.
A few hours after Macron’s comments, sources at Palazzo Chigi expressed “astonishment” at the French president’s words.
