• Macron criticized Meloni for commenting on France's internal issues.
• The killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque has intensified political tensions.
• Seven suspects, including far-left affiliates, face murder charges.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to refrain from commenting on domestic issues in other countries, notably regarding the killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque in France. Deranque, 23, died from head injuries sustained during a far-right protest in Lyon, prompting Meloni to declare the incident a "wound for all of Europe" on social media. Macron retorted that nationalists, like Meloni, frequently comment on foreign matters despite wanting to focus on their own countries, emphasizing, “Let everyone stay in their own lane,” during a visit to India, according to SCMP and Reuters.

Macron's remarks have resulted in a significant political backlash in France, where the far-right National Rally party is gaining traction ahead of upcoming elections. The brutal beating and subsequent death of Deranque have incited outrage, with seven individuals facing murder charges, including an assistant to a member of parliament from the hard-left France Unbowed party. Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran confirmed these charges while noting that all suspects deny wrongdoing, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

In a television interview, Meloni expressed that Macron misinterpreted her comments, reiterating her sympathy for the tragic incident while accusing him of inappropriately taking offense. She referred to historical contexts of political violence, suggesting a need for Europe to reflect on preventing such a climate from resurfacing, referencing past events involving left-wing extremism in Italy, as mentioned in Al Jazeera and SCMP.