France Cuts Communication with US Ambassador After Right-Wing Activist's Death Crisis
In a sharp diplomatic escalation, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to cut all forms of communication between the US ambassador in Paris Charles Kushner and members of the French government, following his controversial statements regarding the death of French right-wing activist Quentin Diranck, which sparked anger in Paris and fueled tensions with both the United States and Italy simultaneously.
A diplomatic source confirmed yesterday, Monday, that the ambassador failed to attend the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs despite being summoned, and he was supposed to arrive at 7 PM (18:00).
The ministry considered this stance as a "lack of clear understanding of the basic elements of any ambassador's role," prompting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to sever communication between the ambassador and government members, making it impossible for him to communicate with any of them.
The decision came after the ambassador's remarks regarding the death of right-wing activist Quentin Diranck, who was beaten to death by activists suspected of being from the far-left in Lyon, triggered a wave of anger in France, according to reports from "Reuters."
The prosecution confirmed that six individuals participated in the assault, and murder charges were filed against two of them, who were placed in pretrial detention.
The crisis did not only involve France and the US, as relations between Paris and Rome also soured after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described Diranck's death as "a wound for all of Europe" due to what she termed an "ideological climate of hatred sweeping through several countries."
In response, French President Emmanuel Macron stated:
"Nationalists should stop commenting on the affairs of other countries. Let everyone stay in their own home, and things will be fine."
The US embassy in France also stirred controversy through its official account on the platform "X," where it indicated that "the reports confirmed by the French Minister of the Interior regarding the murder of Quentin Diranck by far-left extremists should concern us all," adding that "violent left-wing extremism is on the rise, and its role in Diranck's death shows the danger to public safety, and we will continue to monitor the situation and hope that those responsible for this violence are brought to justice."
These developments reflect unprecedented diplomatic tension between Paris and Washington, amid close scrutiny from European public opinion, as investigations continue into the death of the French activist, which has shaken public sentiment and ignited widespread debate on an international level.
