European Parliament rejects minute of silence for French nationalist student
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The European Parliament has rejected a request by the far‑right Patriots for Europe (PfE) group to hold a minute of silence this week for Quentin Deranque, a French nationalist student killed in Lyon two weeks ago, Euronews has learned.
Parliament President Roberta Metsola declined the proposal because Tuesday’s extraordinary session in Brussels is dedicated solely to marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Following a joint request from five political groups, Metsola later agreed to open the session with a moment of silence for all victims of political violence, parliamentary sources said.
A specific tribute to Deranque was ruled out as unrelated to the session’s purpose, which includes a vote on a non‑binding resolution supporting Ukraine. Metsola’s office also rejected other attempts to alter the agenda.
A minute of silence for Deranque may instead be held during the next regular plenary session in Strasbourg in mid‑March.
Deranque, 23, died after being severely beaten during clashes between far‑left and far‑right activists in Lyon following an event featuring LFI MEP Rima Hassan.
Political and diplomatic fallout
Although the investigation continues, the killing has ignited intense political debate in France ahead of next year’s presidential election and weeks before local polls where both extremes are expected to gain ground.
France’s far right has accused La France Insoumise (LFI) of moral responsibility, citing alleged links to “La Jeune Garde,” an antifascist group dissolved in 2025. Prosecutors say seven people will face murder charges, including a parliamentary assistant to LFI MP Raphaël Arnault.
More than 3,200 people marched in Lyon on Saturday to honour Deranque.
The case has also caused diplomatic friction. French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot summoned US ambassador Charles Kushner after he shared a State Department counterterrorism message claiming “violent radical leftism is on the rise” and citing Deranque’s death as evidence.
“We reject any attempt to use this tragedy for political purposes,” Barrot said on France Inter.
After PfE requested a minute of silence, France’s National Rally rallied support from other PfE parties. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group later backed the call and said it would seek a March plenary debate on political violence linked to far‑left extremism.
