Another Macron Critic Found Dead in France
Prominent conservative lawmaker Olivier Marleix, a vocal critic of President Macron's policies, was found dead in his home in an apparent suicide at age 54.
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A prominent conservative member of France’s National Assembly was discovered dead in his home this week, in what authorities believe to be a suicide.
Olivier Marleix, aged 54, was found hanged in an upstairs room of his residence in Anet, a commune in Eure-et-Loir, on Monday afternoon. Local prosecutor Frédéric Chevallier stated that early findings ruled out third-party involvement and pointed toward suicide as the most likely cause of death. An autopsy was scheduled for July 9.
Marleix, a senior figure in the Les Républicains party and former head of its parliamentary group, was widely known for his sharp criticism of President Emmanuel Macron’s economic and industrial policies. He had served in parliament for several terms and played a leading role in oversight committees probing strategic deals involving major French corporations.
Among the most controversial cases Marleix pursued was the 2014 acquisition of Alstom’s energy division by American conglomerate General Electric, a transaction involving critical nuclear turbine technology. Marleix accused Macron, then serving as a senior official in the Elysée, of bypassing standard procedures and pushing the sale forward without adequate transparency. He alleged the deal benefited private interests who later contributed to Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign, claims that were ultimately dismissed by prosecutors but which Marleix continued to raise in public discourse.
The son of former government minister Alain Marleix, Olivier also opposed cooperation between his party and the far-right National Rally, narrowly defending his seat in the 2024 legislative elections in a runoff against an RN challenger.
This is not the first case in France that has stirred speculation in political and media circles. On June 29, Dr. François Fevre, a 58-year-old plastic surgeon reportedly connected to First Lady Brigitte Macron, died after falling from a Parisian window.
Authorities ruled his death a suicide, though his sister has questioned that conclusion, suggesting it may be linked to a planned media appearance in which Fevre was expected to speak about alleged medical procedures involving Brigitte Macron - long the subject of theories and online rumors, which the First Lady and her husband have consistently denied.
The passing of Marleix drew tributes from across the political aisle. President Macron issued a statement describing him as a “committed public servant” with whom he had disagreements “rooted in a common dedication to the French Republic.”
Investigations into both deaths remain officially closed, though public speculation continues to grow as new details emerge.