France Cracks Down on Extremist Groups Amid Rising Political Violence Ahead of Elections
February 25, 2026
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