France remains gripped by shock and political fury following the death of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, a mathematics student and nationalist activist beaten to death in Lyon.
The attack on February 12, widely attributed to far-left militants linked to the dissolved anti-fascist group La Jeune Garde, has thrust the La France Insoumise (LFI) party into the spotlight.
LFI has refused to sever ties or condemn the group outright, portraying it as a defensive force against far-right threats.
Despite arrests and mounting evidence of connections, LFI maintains support for allied anti-fascist networks, framing criticism as a politically motivated smear campaign.
Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon rejected any direct responsibility while renewing approval for Jeune Garde’s “resistance” and organisation as legitimate anti-fascist efforts, although he did acknowledge potential excesses.
During a meeting yesterday, Mélenchon reiterated his praise for the Jeune Garde.
He said his party had “deliberately moved closer” to the Jeune Garde a few years ago. “We did not hide, we admired these young people.
“We have a great affection for them. And I say this also for the other antifa movements. Even if we don’t agree. Even if you regularly call us soft-slung social democrats!”
The attack occurred after clashes outside Sciences Po Lyon, where LFI MEP Rima Hassan was speaking.
Deranque, providing informal security for a small demonstration by female members of Némésis, protesting at Hassan’s appearance, was assaulted by a group of at least six masked individuals.
Némésis an organisation in France and Switzerland for women aged 18 to 30, describing itself as feminist and identitarian.
The 23-year-old suffered severe head injuries from multiple heavy blows, was placed in a coma, and died on February 14 from brain trauma. Prosecutors reclassified the case as voluntary homicide.
🔴 Mort de Quentin Deranque : la victime a été frappée par au moins 6 individus recherchés. Le jeune militant nationaliste de 23 ans est décédé d'un traumatisme crânien majeur. Une enquête pour homicide volontaire a été ouverte. #JT20h pic.twitter.com/5SMS3ETyLr
— Le20h-France Télévisions (@le20hfrancetele) February 16, 2026
Investigations quickly focused on La Jeune Garde, a Lyon-based anti-fascist group co-founded by LFI MP Raphaël Arnault before his election.
Arnault was labelled a dangerous person by the police prior to his election due to his radicalism and links with violence.
In December 2025, Arnault was definitively sentenced to six months suspended prison and fined €1,000 for “voluntary violence in a meeting” in a February 2022 case.
Leaked recordings attribute to him death threats against Némésis activist Alice Cordier, saying: “We will put a bullet in her head.” He denies it and proceedings continue.
The Jeune Garde was dissolved by the French Government on June 12, 2025. Then-interior minister Bruno Retailleau cited the organisation’s involvement in violent actions and provocations, describing it as a “de facto group” violating public order.
The group assaulted a 15-year-old “Zionist” in the metro of Paris.
Jeune Garde has denied involvement, stating it suspended activities amid dissolution proceedings. Witnesses and media reports, however, linked suspects to the network, including an LFI parliamentary assistant and other individuals with ties to Arnault and his party.
Yesterday, French authorities arrested nine suspects, including Arnault’s assistant Jacques-Elie Favrot and another militant who used to intern with the deputy. Many of these suspects were holders of a so-called S-card, meaning they were also on the radar of the police for extremism.
One day earlier, the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, announced the suspension of Favrot’s access to parliament premises.
Today, two new arrests were made. One of the detained is an active member of the Jeune Garde.
The arrests intensified scrutiny on LFI’s historical reliance on Jeune Garde when it organises events.
On social media, images show LFI MP Carlos Martens Bilongo training in boxing alongside Cem Yoldas, spokesman for the Jeune Garde and now a candidate for the municipalities in Strasbourg.
Other photographs show the MEP LFI Rima Hassan posing alongside members of the Jeune Garde during militant events in Lyon. She also has been seen wearing T-shirts publicising the group.
The National Assembly session yesterday opened with a minute’s silence for Deranque, but quickly descended into heated exchanges. Government spokespeople and opposition MPs condemned LFI’s rhetoric and alliances, accusing the party of fostering a climate of violence.
Justice minister Gérald Darmanin reiterated that “the ultra-left killed him [Deranque]” while interior minister Laurent Nuñez highlighted “strong links” between LFI and Jeune Garde.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon called on LFI to suspend Arnault from its parliamentary group “at least temporarily” to “make a clarification” and reject violence.
LFI figures, including group leader Mathilde Panot, denounced the accusations as “instrumentalisation” and a “witch hunt” aimed at marginalising the party ahead of March municipal elections and the 2027 presidential race.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said her speech was “abject” and “dishonourable”.
The case has deepened fractures on the Left. Some voices within the broader Left question LFI’s confrontational strategy, although others hesitate on fully breaking with the New Popular Front alliance of LFI and several others comprising the majority of left-wing political parties in France.
Former prime minister François Hollande said: “There can be no alliance between the socialists or the reformist-left formations and LFI in the second round, [of the municipal elections], that’s clear.”
He said he considers that “the relationship with LFI is totally broken” because LFI “has failed to keep its commitments” on the refusal of the “brutalisation” of the political debate.
Arnault’s election under the LFI banner, despite his background in a movement known for street-brawling, underscored the party’s willingness to embrace militant antifascist activism.
National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella said: “Raphaël Arnault has no place in the Assembly” and demanded a cordon sanitaire against LFI.
Online, many remind left-wing politicians they campaigned for the New Popular Front formed to block the RN of Marine Le Pen, where Socialists, Communists and Greens collaborated with LFI.
On the campaign posters of the New Popular Front, the Jeune Garde was explicitly mentioned as a supportive group.
Vous avez oublié votre étiquette de 2024 @fhollande pic.twitter.com/eYxAzO69Hn
— Gabriel de Varenne (@G_deVarenne) February 18, 2026
