Following the death of far-right militant Quentin Deranque in Lyon on February 14, Republicans are calling for a political isolation of La France insoumise (LFI), accused of fostering violence. LFI leaders deny any responsibility and remain open to left-wing alliances for the 2026 municipal elections. The Socialist Party is hesitant on these proposals due to the alleged involvement of an LFI deputy's staff in the case.
Quentin Deranque, a nationalist militant, died on February 14 in Lyon during an assault. Several parliamentary collaborators of LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault are implicated in the judicial inquiry, according to the sources.
The Republicans (LR) are reacting strongly. In an interview with Le Journal du dimanche on February 22, Laurent Wauquiez describes LFI as « toxique pour notre vie démocratique » and calls for its political isolation, without advocating dissolution. Only Senator Stéphane Le Rudulier has been demanding this measure for three years. Bruno Retailleau, LR president, advocates a « cordon sanitaire »: « Pas une voix ne doit aller vers les candidats insoumis », he states on February 19 in Seine-et-Marne. He links LFI's verbal violence in the National Assembly to physical violence, stating that « LFI a transformé l’Assemblée nationale en champ de bataille ».
For its part, Manuel Bompard, LFI coordinator, denies any responsibility: « LFI n’a ni une responsabilité judiciaire, ni une responsabilité morale, ni une responsabilité politique », he says on February 22. Mathilde Panot, president of the LFI group in the Assembly, expresses pride in having Raphaël Arnault in her ranks and indicates he could be reinvested in the next legislative elections.
For the 2026 municipal elections, LFI remains open to agreements. If it leads in the first round, it will propose a « rassemblement » with other left-wing lists, according to Panot on BFM-TV and Bompard on RTL on February 22. The latter emphasizes that this aims to « battre la droite et l’extrême droite », following the tradition of gathering rather than withdrawal.
The Socialist Party (PS) is cautious. Its secretary general, Pierre Jouvet, rules out a national agreement but admits rare local rapprochements if LFI clarifies its position on political violence. Figures like François Hollande and Jérôme Guedj call for excluding any arrangement with LFI in the second round.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner after he reposted a message from the Trump administration on Deranque's death.
