Europe's far right, which was already riding a wave of popularity and threatening to make gains in upcoming elections, has opened up a new front and is portraying itself as a victim of violence.

Far-right parties, including France's anti-immigrant National Rally, claimed to be endangered during a rally over the weekend in memory of an activist who was beaten to death.

Left-wing activists allegedly attacked 23-year-old Quentin Deranque in the French city of Lyon before he died in hospital on Feb 14.

He was reportedly set upon on the sidelines of a far-right protest outside an event in Lyon where far-left lawmaker Rima Hassan was a keynote speaker.

Three thousand far-right activists marched on Saturday in his memory in Lyon, which has become a battleground for activists from the extremes of the political spectrum.

Marchers, many of whom were carrying white tulips, banners and placards, wore black and chanted "justice for Quentin". The local government said some were filmed making Nazi salutes and hurling racist insults.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, eager not to anger prospective far-right voters ahead of a presidential election next year, said before the march: "This is a moment of remembrance and respect for this young compatriot who was killed, for his family and loved ones. That must come first. And then it is a moment of firmness and responsibility."

Seven people are under formal investigation over Deranque's death, including a former aide to a lawmaker from the far-left La France Insoumise.

The tension in France and much of Europe between the far right and far left has flared in the wake of hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants arriving there in recent years.

The dispute between the two extremes is now adding to tensions between Europe and the United States, with France threatening to summon the US ambassador to France Charles Kushner over comments made by the Trump administration.

Jean-Noel Barrot, France's minister for Europe and foreign affairs, took issue with a statement posted on X by the US State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism that reads: "Violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque's death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety. We will continue to monitor the situation and expect to see the perpetrators of violence brought to justice."

On Sunday, Barrot told the television broadcaster Franceinfo:"We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends. We have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement. We analyze political life and the role of violence ourselves with sufficient verve and will not allow others to do so for us."

earle@mail.chinadailyuk.com