The European Parliament (EP) has refused to hold a minute of silence for Quentin Deranque, the 23-year-old French nationalist student beaten to death by a far-left mob in Lyon, prompting fresh accusations of political double standards in Brussels.
The request, tabled by the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group and later backed by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), was rejected by EP president Roberta Metsola. Officials said this week’s extraordinary session is dedicated to marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and will focus solely on that agenda.
Instead, MEPs observed a broader tribute to “victims of political violence,” without naming Deranque. A specific minute of silence could be considered during the next plenary session in Strasbourg in March.
The decision has revived criticism from conservative benches, who note that last September left-wing MEPs jeered and disrupted proceedings when a tribute was proposed for murdered U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sparking chaos in the chamber.
That same month, the Parliament’s legal affairs committee voted against lifting the immunity of Italian MEP Ilaria Salis, who had been arrested in Hungary over alleged involvement in Antifa-linked street attacks—a move critics said showed political selectivity.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Deranque’s killing continues in France. Prosecutors have confirmed that seven individuals will face murder charges, including a parliamentary assistant linked to a lawmaker from La France Insoumise. More than 3,200 people marched peacefully through Lyon at the weekend to pay tribute to the 23-year-old, amid heavy police presence.
The case has also triggered diplomatic tensions. After the U.S. State Department warned that “violent radical leftism is on the rise” following Deranque’s death, France summoned American ambassador Charles Kushner. French officials later said Kushner did not personally attend the summons.
With pressure building ahead of the March plenary in Strasbourg, the row shows little sign of subsiding.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism said the alleged role of violent radical leftism in Deranque’s killing demonstrated “the threat it poses to public safety.”
