'Stop Commenting On Other Countries': Macron Calls Out Meloni Over Remark On France Activist Row

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 09:03 IST

Macron has slammed Giorgia Meloni for commenting on the killing of a far-right activist in Lyon, telling her to “stay in their own lane” as political tensions rose in France.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over her remarks on the fatal beating of a far-right activist in France, with both leaders defending their positions as political tensions intensified around the case.

The dispute followed the death of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, who died from head injuries after being attacked by at least six people on February 12 on the sidelines of a far-right protest at a university in Lyon.

Eleven suspects, eight men and three women, have been taken into custody as part of an investigation into “intentional homicide," with most reported to be linked to far-left movements, a source close to the investigation told AFP.

The killing has fuelled political tensions in France ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race, in which the far-right Rally (RN) party is widely seen as having a strong opportunity to compete for power.

Speaking on Meloni’s remark, Macron criticised her for publicly reacting to the incident, telling her to stop “commenting on what is happening in other people’s countries."

Referring to her remarks, he added, “Let everyone stay in their own lane."

Macron also stressed that violence from any political camp was unacceptable.

“Nothing can justify violent action, neither on one side nor the other, and not even in a head-to-head confrontation that is deadly for the republic," he said, adding that there was “no place in France for movements that adopt and legitimise violence."

A member of Macron’s team earlier said the President was “concerned about the situation, which he is closely monitoring," and warned that “we must avoid any spiral of violence."

Meloni had earlier described Deranque’s killing as “a wound for all of Europe," saying the death of “a boy just over 20 years old, attacked by groups linked to left-wing extremism and overwhelmed by a climate of ideological hatred that is sweeping across several nations," deeply shocked and saddened her.

Responding to Macron’s criticism in a television interview with SkyTG24 on Thursday, Meloni rejected accusations of interference.

“I’m sorry that Macron experienced it as interference," she said, arguing that expressing solidarity did not amount to meddling in France’s internal affairs.

“Intervening, by expressing solidarity with the French people on a matter that clearly concerns everyone, is not interference. I’m sorry Macron didn’t understand this," she added.

Meloni also warned about what she described as a broader rise in political extremism across Western countries.

“I see a climate I don’t like, I see it in Italy, I see it in France, I see it in the United States," she said, drawing parallels with Italy’s violent “Years of Lead" between 1969 and 1980, when attacks were carried out by the radical Marxist Red Brigades.

Referencing long-standing tensions between Paris and Rome over former Red Brigades members who found refuge in France, Meloni said political leaders must reflect on how to prevent Europe from returning to such a period of violence.

She also recalled earlier disputes with France, saying that foreign scrutiny of Italy after her 2022 election victory had itself amounted to interference.

News world 'Stop Commenting On Other Countries': Macron Calls Out Meloni Over Remark On France Activist Row

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