Olivier Marleix (; 6 February 1971 – 7 July 2025) was a French politician who represented the 2nd constituency of the Eure-et-Loir department in the National Assembly from 2012 until his death in 2025. A member of The Republicans (LR), he presided over The Republicans group in the National Assembly from 2022 to 2024.

Early life Marleix graduated from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in 1992. He also held a Diplôme d'études approfondies in public law from the University of Auvergne, which he completed in 1994.

Political career Career in local politics Prior to his election to the National Assembly in 2012, Marleix was elected as Mayor of Anet in 2008, an office he held until his resignation in 2017 to focus on his parliamentary work. He also held a seat in the General Council of Eure-et-Loir from 2008 to 2014 for the canton of Anet. From 2008 to 2011, he held one of the general council's vice presidencies under the presidency of Albéric de Montgolfier.

Member of the National Assembly, 2012–2025 In parliament, Marleix served on the Committee on Legal Affairs. From 2017 until 2018, he chaired a parliamentary inquiry into whether France's government should subject foreign takeovers of French firms to parliamentary scrutiny.Michel Rose and Elizabeth Pineau (21 March 2018), French lawmakers seek scrutiny over Macron on foreign takeovers, Reuters. In 2019 he indicted Emmanuel Macron, who had signed in 2014 as Minister of Economy the consummation of the Alstom merger with General Electric, to the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (Parquet national financier); only to have it declare a non-lieu.

In addition to his committee assignments, he was a member of the French-Moroccan Parliamentary Friendship Group.Olivier Marleix French National Assembly.

In 2018, Marleix was appointed to the shadow cabinet of The Republicans leader Laurent Wauquiez and tasked with the industry portfolio.Olivier Faye (21 November 2018), Laurent Wauquiez dévoile (enfin) son « shadow cabinet », Le Monde.

After Christian Jacob's election in October 2019 as party leader, Marleix announced his candidacy to succeed him as leader of the party's parliamentary group in the National Assembly in November 2019; he eventually lost to Damien Abad of Ain.Ludovic Vigogne (6 November 2019), Couronnement: A l’Assemblée, Damien Abad devient le nouveau patron des députés LR, L'Opinion.

Chair of the Republicans' Parliamentary Group, 2022–2025 Following the 2022 legislative election, Marleix again put his candidacy forward for parliamentary leader.Wally Bordas and Emmanuel Galiero (21 June 2022), Présidence du groupe LR à l'Assemblée : le match se joue entre Julien Dive et Olivier Marleix, Le Figaro. He faced Julien Dive of Aisne, whom he defeated with 40 votes against 20.Wally Bordas and Emmanuel Galiero (22 June 2022), Olivier Marleix, un homme d'expérience à la tête du groupe LR à l'Assemblée nationale, Le Figaro. Marleix took over from acting parliamentary leader Virginie Duby-Muller on 22 June 2022.

Upon his death Christelle Minard took his seat in the National Assembly, as stipulated by her position as his substitute in French electoral law.

Political positions Technical advisor to the Presidency of the Republic under the mandate of Nicolas Sarkozy between 2009 and 2011. In the Republicans' 2016 presidential primary, Marleix endorsed former President Nicolas Sarkozy as the party's candidate for the office of President of France.Ludovic Vigogne (20 April 2016), Bataillons: Primaire à droite: la liste des premiers soutiens parlementaires, L'Opinion. In the Republicans' 2017 leadership election, he endorsed Laurent Wauquiez.Ludovic Vigogne (11 October 2017), La liste des 136 parrains de Laurent Wauquiez, L'Opinion. Ahead of the 2022 presidential election, he publicly declared his support for Michel Barnier as the Republicans' candidate.Emmanuel Galiero (1 October 2021), Présidentielle 2022 : Michel Barnier engrange le soutien de 51 parlementaires de droite, Le Figaro. Ahead of the party's 2022 convention, he endorsed Éric Ciotti as chairman then asked for his resignation two years later, wanting an alliance with the RN.Eric Ciotti élu président du parti Les Républicains Le Monde, 11 December 2022.

Personal life Marleix came from a political family. His father, Alain Marleix, was a former secretary of state and a deputy of Cantal. His mother, Évelyne Marleix, served as the mayor of Molompize from 2001 to 2008.

Marleix was the father of two daughters.

Death and funeral Marleix was found dead at his home in Anet, Eure-Et-Loir, on 7 July 2025. Paris Match reported that the police had conducted a welfare check at his home after he had missed an appointment with Anet's mayor, Aliette Le Bihan; his body was found hanged in the upstairs bedroom. Marleix's death was deemed a suicide;Disparition d’Olivier Marleix, ancien président des députés LR a scrap of paper found next to him was deemed by the authorities to be irrelevant to their investigation.

His funeral was held on 11 July at Saint-Cyr Sainte-Julitte church in Anet. Many politicians attended, including the interior minister Bruno Retailleau, Prime Minister François Bayrou, and President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet. At his friend's funeral Retailleau asked himself: "Nous ne comprenons pas, quels cris Olivier étouffait-il ? Quelle nuit traversait-il ? Pourquoi ? Qu’aurions-nous dû voir ? Quels combats intérieurs livrait-il pour qu’il se résolve à un tel geste ?"

See also 2022 French legislative election

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