Macron calls for de-escalation after fatal beating of young right-winger

(Patria) - French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm and restraint after the fatal beating of a 23-year-old French youth linked to the far-right on the sidelines of a conference of far-left lawmakers in the southeastern city of Lyon.

The death of the young man, identified only as Quentin, has heightened tensions between France's far-right and far-left, who are eyeing the 2027 presidential election, AFP reports.

He was hospitalized in Lyon on Thursday after being attacked while, his supporters said, he was providing security at a protest against the appearance of far-left lawmaker Rima Hassan at a branch of the Sciences Po University in Lyon.

The Lyon public prosecutor's office told AFP on Saturday that he had died from his injuries. An investigation has been launched on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter, it added.

Macron said on social network X that Quentin was the victim of an "unprecedented outburst of violence. The hatred that kills has no place in our country. I call for calm, restraint and respect."

Organized attack

According to the Nemesis collective, which is close to the far-right, Quentin was part of a security team responsible for ensuring the safety of their activists.

They were protesting against a conference organized by Hassan, who is known for her open criticism of Israel.

The family's lawyer said in a statement that Quentin appeared to have been ambushed by "organized and trained individuals, significantly superior in number and armed, some with masks on their faces".

Prosecutors have not yet provided details on the circumstances of his death.

Nemesis accused members of a local anti-fascist association, banned by the government in June, of being behind the killing.

Triple presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who still hopes to run in the 2027 elections despite a corruption conviction, said on X that the "barbarians responsible for this lynching" should be brought to justice.

As Quentin's death has caused a wave of alarm across the political spectrum, concern has also spread to the far-left party to which Hassan belongs, La France Insoumise (LFI).

"What I have feared for years in Lyon continues. I express my condolences to the family of this young man and hope that the truth about this tragedy will be revealed," said French parliamentarian Raphael Arnault (LFI).

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party is the largest single party by seats in the French lower house, while LFI is the largest left-wing faction.

Following the incident, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez called on authorities to "increase vigilance around political gatherings, as well as around polling stations".