Macron tells Meloni to ‘stay in lane’ over remarks on far-right activist’s death in France
The Italian prime minister had called French activist Quentin Deranque’s fatal attack ‘a wound for all of Europe’
Quentin Deranque, 23, died from head injuries after being attacked by at least six people last week on the sidelines of a far-right protest at a university in the city of Lyon. Most of the 11 suspects detained are from far-left movements, according to a source close to the investigation.
The killing has fuelled political tensions in France ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race, in which the far-right National Rally party is seen as having its best chance yet at winning the top job.
“Let everyone stay in their own lane,” Macron shot back in New Delhi, on the sidelines of an official visit to India.
Macron also said there was no place in France “for movements that adopt and legitimise violence”.
“Nothing can justify violent action – neither on one side nor the other, and not even in a head-to-head confrontation that is deadly for the republic,” he said.