One of the most prominent young figures and potential future leader of France’s extreme left resigned his party post on Sunday after admitting violent behavior towards his wife.

Adrien Quatennens, 32, was a key figure in far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon’s France Unbowed (LFI) movement, which narrowly missed the runoff in this year’s presidential election.

He is part of a young guard of LFI seen as a potential future leader of the party once 71-year-old Melenchon retires from politics after making the party France’s number one left force, well ahead of the Socialists (PS).

Quatennens announced his resignation as coordinator for the LFI after admitting to hitting his wife, from whom he is divorcing, during an argument a year ago.

“I deeply regret this action, which has never been repeated,” he said after the allegation was first published by satirical weekly Canard Enchaine this week.

Quatennens also admitted to having “sent too many messages” to his wife “to convince her that our difficulties as a couple could be overcome”.

The MP said he would “take the consequences” by “quitting” his job as coordinator to “protect the movement and its activists.”

His wife has filed what is known as a “principal jurisdiction” over his actions, which is a police report of a violation but does not normally initiate a criminal investigation. His attorney said he was not aware of any investigation into Quatennens.

Melenchon said Quatennens was the victim of a media campaign, praising his “dignity and bravery” and stressing that a hit is “always unacceptable”.

The LFI leader, who has dominated the influential far-left movement in France for the past decade and played a major role in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, has said he has no plans to run for head of state again.

Quatennens has so far been seen as one of several members of an often radical party long guard who could replace Melenchon, along with figures such as MP Clementine Autain.