French National Rally seeks ban on Raphaël Arnault conference in Lyon

Members of the National Rally (RN) have requested that the Rhône prefect prohibit a scheduled conference by LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault in Lyon. The event, set for November 5 in a municipal hall in the 8th arrondissement, was intended to promote Arnault’s book, “Antifasciste”.

RN deputy Tiffany Joncour and local official Alexandre Dupalais have called for the cancellation, citing the ongoing investigation into the death of Quentin Deranque. Deranque, a radical far-right activist, died in February following a violent confrontation between ultra-left and ultra-right militants in Lyon.

Arnault is a co-founder of the now-dissolved antifascist movement “La Jeune Garde”. While Arnault was not present during the fatal altercation, several individuals close to him, including his parliamentary assistant Jacques-Elie Favrot and staff member Adrian Besseyre, have been indicted for murder or complicity.

Additionally, the lawyer for the Deranque family has formally requested that Arnault be interrogated by investigating judges on suspicion of “criminal association”. The request follows concerns regarding self-defense training organized by La Jeune Garde.