19.02.2026 23:42
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted sharply to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who described the death of a right-wing youth beaten in France as "a wound for all of Europe." Macron stated, "I am always surprised to see that nationalists who do not want to be disturbed in their own countries are the first to comment on what happens to others," and urged Meloni to "stop commenting on what happens to others."
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a statement to reporters in New Delhi, the capital of India, evaluated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's comments regarding the death of a young man in a fight between leftist and far-right groups in the city of Lyon, France.
"STOP COMMENTING"
Regarding Meloni's characterization of the incident as "a wound for all of Europe," Macron stated, "I am always surprised to see that nationalists who do not want to be disturbed in their own countries are the first to comment on what is happening elsewhere." Macron reiterated that no ideology or idea justifies violence and asked Meloni to "stop commenting on what is happening to others."
WHAT DID MELONI SAY?
After the death of a young man named Quentin Deranque, allegedly in a fight between opposing groups on February 12 in Lyon, tensions had also risen among representatives of leftist and far-right political parties. Italian Prime Minister Meloni stated in a social media post that the young man's death was "a wound for all of Europe."
WHAT HAPPENED IN FRANCE?
It was claimed that the violent incident that occurred while Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament from the Unsubmissive France (LFI) party, was in Lyon to attend a conference on February 12, was between far-right and leftist groups. The far-right group named Nemesis held the leftist group Jeune Garde responsible for the young man's death, but no official statement has been made on this matter yet.
Security camera footage reported by the French press showed a group attacking 3 young men in the 5th district of Lyon, with 2 of the young men managing to escape the scene, while the other lay motionless on the ground.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a statement on his social media account, emphasized that no case or ideology in his country could justify the young man's death and called for restraint.
In a statement from the Lyon Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that 6 individuals were identified as having attacked the deceased Deranque together. A murder investigation was opened regarding the incident in which Deranque died in the hospital due to a blow to his head.