Demonstrators hold placards during a rally in tribute to Quentin Deranque in Lille, France, on Feb 18, 2026. Deranque died of head injuries after being beaten on the sidelines of a far-right protest in Lyon on Feb 14. (Photo: AFP)PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron appealed on Saturday for cooler heads to prevail ahead of a rally for a far-right activist whose killing, blamed on the hard left, has put the country on edge. The rally is expected to be attended by 2,000 to 3,000 people, and likely to see counter-protesters from the hard left. Likewise, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday called Deranque’s death “a wound for all Europe”, prompting Macron to urge the far-right leader to stay out of French matters.

Source: Bangkok Post February 21, 2026 15:16 UTC