In a recent opinion piece, Thibault de Montbrial discusses the tragic death of Quentin, a 23-year-old student who was brutally beaten by far-left militants at a political event in Lyon. Montbrial emphasizes that this incident reflects a disturbing trend in contemporary French society, where political violence is increasingly rationalized and even justified by certain ideological groups. He argues that the framing of political opponents as absolute adversaries fosters a climate of extreme hostility and justifies violent actions against them.

Montbrial, who is the president of the Center for Reflection on Internal Security (CRSI) and a practicing lawyer in Paris, highlights that Quentin’s death serves as a stark indicator of the rising tensions within France. This event occurred during a conference led by Euro MP Rima Hassan, suggesting that the violence is closely tied to the broader political discourse and the polarization prevalent in current debates. By examining the motivations behind such brutality, Montbrial calls for a reevaluation of the ideological narratives that condone violence in the name of political activism.

In his conclusion, Montbrial warns that without a cultural and political shift towards recognizing the dangers of vilifying political adversaries, society is at risk of entering a perilous phase where violence becomes normalized. He urges for a collective effort to denounce political extremism in all its forms, stressing that the fight against one’s political enemies should never involve falling into the trap of justifying violent methods, which ultimately undermines the democratic fabric of the nation.