Live: Macron calls for ‘calm’ as tribute rally for slain far-right activist begins in Lyon
France 24 • • world
Key Points:
- Approximately 3,200 people participated in a far-right rally in Lyon on February 21, 2026, to honor Quentin Deranque, a nationalist activist who died from a beating attributed to hard-left activists, amid rising political tensions ahead of France's presidential election.
- The march featured far-right fringe groups such as Allobroges Bourgoin, Némésis, Audace Lyon, and Action française, with chants blaming the far left and calls for justice; heavy police presence and security measures, including drones, were deployed to prevent violence.
- French President Emmanuel Macron condemned all political violence, emphasizing that militias have no place in the Republic, and announced a forthcoming review of violent activist groups, with potential dismantling of some organizations
