France's far left faces image crisis as killing of far‑right activist fuels public distrust – pollster

Record ID: 2342477

  • Title: France's far left faces image crisis as killing of far‑right activist fuels public distrust – pollster
  • Date: 20th February 2026
  • Summary: VINCENNES, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 19, 2027) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MANAGING DIRECTOR AT HARRIS INTERACTIVE POLLING INSTITUTE, JEAN-DANIEL LEVY, WORKING AT HIS DESK (SOUNDBITE) (French) MANAGING DIRECTOR AT HARRIS INTERACTIVE POLLING INSTITUTE, JEAN-DANIEL LEVY, SAYING: "Just look at how the French people view what's happening in the National Assembly. Today, if there's one group t
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Elections Far-left Far-right France Unbowed NAtional Rally
  • Location: PARIS, VINCENNES AND ANNECY, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, VINCENNES AND ANNECY, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA005643018022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    The death of a far-right activist in Lyon has deepened a political rift in France, with new polling suggesting the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) faces growing distrust among voters while the far-right National Rally (RN) strengthens its image as a more “republican” force.
    Jean‑Daniel Levy, managing director at Harris Interactive, said public opinion had shifted markedly in recent years, leaving LFI increasingly associated with political violence in the eyes of voters, even as the party denies any link to last weekend’s deadly attack.
    “Today, if there’s one group that inspires confidence, certainly more than the others, it’s the National Rally,” Levy told Reuters. “And if you have a group that inspires strong distrust, that’s France Unbowed."
    "Once certain image traits are established, they can change over time, but the idea that there could be political violence expressed by political figures with a history of physical violence makes much more sense when you're talking about people close to LFI."
    His comments come as the National Assembly on Monday observed a minute’s silence for Quentin Deranque, 23, who died on Saturday after being beaten outside a conference centre where LFI-linked MEP Rima Hassan was speaking.
    Eleven people, including aides to LFI lawmaker Raphael Arnault, were arrested overnight on suspicion of involvement. Arnault said one assistant had stopped all parliamentary work pending the investigation. Their lawyers have acknowledged the aide’s presence at the scene but denied he delivered the fatal blows.
    RN president Jordan Bardella said the killing proved the far left had “crossed an unacceptable red line” and urged mainstream parties to exclude LFI from political institutions.
    “I call for a genuine cordon sanitaire to isolate France Unbowed,” he said, citing the upcoming municipal elections.
    Addressing the National Assembly on Monday, LFI parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot said her party was being smeared for political gain.
    “No member of France Unbowed is involved in this violence, directly or indirectly,” she said. “Those who exploit this tragedy to smear us must stop. One must be ignorant of history to accept the victimhood narrative of the far right.”
    Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu responded sharply, saying the public no longer trusted LFI’s denials.
    “It is time you cleaned house… your words, your ideas, and above all amongst your ranks,” he told Panot.
    LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard said the party felt increasingly threatened. The movement’s Paris headquarters were evacuated on Wednesday after a bomb threat later deemed a false alarm.
    France heads into local elections next month and a presidential vote next year with both political extremes seeking to capitalise on public anger toward President Emmanuel Macron’s minority government.
    Levy said voters broadly recognised that small groups orbit both the far left and far right, but opinion had become more sharply focused on LFI.
    “From an opinion point of view, it’s much more those who revolve around France Unbowed who are identified,” he said, adding that groups surrounding the RN were far less visible to the public.
    A separate Odoxa poll for Le Figaro published on Thursday found that 76% of French people believe the Socialist Party and its allies should no longer form election pacts with France Unbowed in the wake of Deranque’s death.
    A demonstration by sympathisers of Quentin Deranque is being organised in Lyon on Saturday, with French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez saying it would go ahead under heavy police security despite calls from the mayor to ban it.
    (Production: Lucien Libert)
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