France Cracks Down on Extremist Groups Amid Rising Political Violence Ahead of Elections

February 25, 2026
France Cracks Down on Extremist Groups Amid Rising Political Violence Ahead of Elections
  • With the campaign season intensifying, the executive faces urgent political and security considerations, though some specifics remain behind subscriber access.

  • Three dissolution procedures are on the table: two far-right groupings (Montpellier’s Bloc montpelliérain and Albi’s Patria albiges) and one far-left group whose name has not been disclosed.

  • An inter-ministerial gathering at the Élysée, attended by Macron, Nuñez, Darmanin, the government spokesperson, and intelligence actors, focused on the issue.

  • Discussions centered on how to respond to violent political violence and the potential reconstitution or dissolution of groups like the Jeune Garde.

  • Following the death of extremist activist Quentin Deranque, the French government is moving to dissolve several groups linked to violent subversion, spanning both ultra-right and ultra-left factions.

  • A meeting at the Élysée confirmed ongoing monitoring of groups tied to antifascist currents and possibly linked to the Jeune Garde, signaling a tightened security and legal response ahead of municipal elections.

  • President Macron convened Interior Minister Nuñez, Justice Minister Darmanin, and heads of intelligence to address violent subversion connected to ultra movements.

  • Justice has requested reconstitution actions against dissolved leagues targeting the Jeune Garde, with officials noting possible reconstitutions across multiple territories linked to this movement.

  • Since 2017, France has issued dissolution decrees against 49 groups, a process involving interior ministry review, a 15-day contradictoire period for the accused, and a final Council of Ministers decision; some decrees have faced Conseil d’État challenges.

  • The aim of the meeting was to demonstrate that the executive is treating the rise of ultra movements as a serious, cross-cutting issue beyond routine coverage.

  • Since 2017, Macron’s administration has dissolved twenty-four groups connected to violent subversion—nineteen ultra-right and five ultra-left.

  • Action toward ultra movements intensified after Quentin Deranque’s lynching in Lyon on February 14, prompting an Élysée meeting.

Summary based on 3 sources


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