National Assembly Pays Tribute to Quentin Deranque Amid Rising Political Tensions

The French National Assembly observed a minute of silence on February 17 to honor Quentin Deranque, a young nationalist activist who died after being violently attacked by masked assailants in Lyon. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the Assembly, opened the session condemning all acts of violence and hatred, stating, "No one should die for their ideas." She extended condolences to Deranque's family and echoed the late Robert Badinter's sentiment that peaceful democracy must be governed by law, not confrontation. Éric Ciotti, deputy of UDR, confirmed the unanimous backing of the tribute by parliamentary group leaders, while Mathilde Panot of La France insoumise called for a respectful and dignified homage, warning against politicizing the tragedy.

Meanwhile, new social controversies have emerged. A video circulated showing two men tearing down posters commemorating Deranque in Paris; the posters bore slogans such as "The extreme left kills!" and "Justice for Quentin." One man in the footage expressed disdain for exploiting Deranque's death for political ends, while his companion shockingly voiced support for the violence that led to Deranque's demise. Reacting to this, RN deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy announced his intention to report the remarks to the prosecutor, questioning whether such expressions could be legally categorized as glorification of crime. Meanwhile, the identity collective Nemesis condemned what it described as extreme left-wing indifference to the assassination.

Further reactions include a collective of students and alumni from various Institutes of Political Studies who have called on the government to reevaluate public funding linked to associations affiliated with the antifa movement. Their demand comes in the wake of the murder, highlighting rising concerns over extremist threats from the far left.

The politically charged atmosphere is reflected in broader societal debates, with Parisian bookstores reportedly becoming polarized spaces with limited right-wing literature, and disputes over media coverage of Deranque's death adding to the contentious environment surrounding this incident.

The National Assembly's tribute, acts of poster desecration, legal reactions, and public calls for government intervention illustrate the complex and tense political and social aftermath following Quentin Deranque's death, signaling an urgent need for societal reflection and measured responses.