France’s Macron calls for calm ahead of march for far-right activist killed last week
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French President Emmanuel Macron said the government is on alert to ensure "everything goes well" marches.
PHOTO: EPA
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm ahead of rallies planned on Feb 21 in memory of a far-right activist killed last week.
He said that he would hold a meeting next week with the Prime Minister and relevant ministers on violent groups.
“In the Republic, no violence is legitimate. In the Republic, only Republican forces can act because they protect the Republican order. There is no place for militias,” Mr Macron said at the opening of the annual agricultural salon on Feb 21.
He said that the government was on alert to ensure that everything goes well at the marches later on Feb 21.
The marches are in memory of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, who was beaten to death in a fight that was caught on camera and shocked the nation. Police are concerned the marches could turn violent, with clashes between opposing groups.
The largest march is expected at 3pm in Lyon (10pm Singapore time), the city where Mr Deranque was killed and where there is a concentration of far-right and anti-fascist groups.
The interior ministry estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 people will attend. There are smaller marches planned in a number of other French towns. REUTERS
