PARIS (AFP) - A socialist lawmaker died after collapsing on stage during a speech at a campaign rally for French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron, party officials said Saturday (May 6).

Corinne Erhel, 50, was the last to speak at the rally Friday in western France when she suddenly fell to the ground. She was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

"I learned with immense sadness of the death of Corinne Erhel at the event in Plouisy, where she was speaking to 300 activists," wrote French lower house speaker Claude Bartolone, a socialist.

"A member of parliament since 2007, she was fully invested in her parliamentary work, while still remaining close to the people," said socialist President Francois Hollande.

Erhel joined the centrist political movement "En Marche" ("On the Move") of Macron, who polls predict will beat his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in Sunday's decisive run-off. </s> An En Marche! campaign meeting in southwestern France on May 4th. File photo: Eric Feferberg/AFP

A socialist lawmaker died after collapsing on stage during a speech at a campaign rally for French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron, party officials said on Saturday.

Corinne Erhel, 50, was the last to speak at the rally in western France on Friday when she suddenly fell to the ground. She was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

"I learned with immense sadness of the death of Corinne Erhel at the event in Plouisy, where she was speaking to 300 activists," wrote French lower house speaker Claude Bartolone, a socialist.

"A member of parliament since 2007, she was fully invested in her parliamentary work, while still remaining close to the people," said socialist President Francois Hollande. </s> A French politician has died after collapsing on stage while making a speech at a rally for presidential contender Emmanuel Macron.

Corrine Erhel, who is aged 50, was the final speaker at the event in Plouisy in the west of the country.

She fell to the ground during her speech and later died in hospital.

French lower house speaker Claude Bartolone said "I learned with immense sadness of the death of Corinne Erhel at the event in Plouisy, where she was speaking to 300 activists."

President Francois Hollande said "A member of parliament since 2007, she was fully invested in her parliamentary work, while still remaining close to the people."

Erhel joined the centrist political movement "En Marche" (âOn the Moveâ) back in 2016.

It's also the current party of French presidential Emmanuel Macron, who polls predict will beat his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in tomorrowâs decisive run-off.

Macron offered his condolences to Erhel's family and friends on Twitter saying "Overwhelmed by the death of Corinne Erhel, at our sides since the first hour. Thoughts got out to her spouse and relatives." </s> French MP dies after collapsing during Macron campaign speech

French MP dies after collapsing during Macron campaign speech

Corinne Ehrel joined En Marche! shortly after it was formed

A French MP has died after collapsing on stage while making a speech at a rally for presidential contender Emmanuel Macron.

Corrine Erhel, 50, was the final speaker at the event in Plouisy in western France on Friday.

She fell to the ground during her speech and later died in hospital.

Image: Corinne Ehrel pictured campaigning on 2 May

Ms Ehrel became member of parliament for a part of northern Brittany in 2007.

She was originally a member of the Socialist Party but joined Mr Macron's En Marche! in 2016.

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En Marche! secretary general Richard Ferrand tweeted: "We cry. Corinne Ehrel taken away during a meeting. We will miss our wonderful friend."

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Image: Emmanuel Macron is hoping to become the next president of France

French lower house speaker Claude Bartolone wrote: "I learned with immense sadness of the death of Corinne Erhel at the event in Plouisy, where she was speaking to 300 activists."

Outgoing President Francois Hollande said: "A member of parliament since 2007, she was fully invested in her parliamentary work, while still remaining close to the people."

Mr Macron takes on Marine Le Pen in the final round of the French presidential election on Sunday. </s> Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 presidential election, is pictured through a window of his hotel during a campaign visit in Rodez, France. (Source: Reuters) Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 presidential election, is pictured through a window of his hotel during a campaign visit in Rodez, France. (Source: Reuters)

A socialist lawmaker died after collapsing on stage during a speech at a campaign rally for French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron, party officials said on Saturday. Corinne Erhel, 50, was the last to speak at the rally Friday in western France when she suddenly fell to the ground. She was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

“I learned with immense sadness of the death of Corinne Erhel at the event in Plouisy, where she was speaking to 300 activists,” wrote French lower house speaker Claude Bartolone, a socialist.

“A member of parliament since 2007, she was fully invested in her parliamentary work, while still remaining close to the people,” said socialist President Francois Hollande. Erhel joined the centrist political movement “En Marche” (“On the Move”) of Macron, who polls predict will beat his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in tomorrow’s decisive run-off.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App now </s> March 15 (UPI) -- A Brazilian city councilor for the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party was shot dead Wednesday in an ambush that's caused outrage and protests.

Councilor Marielle Franco had been speaking at an event with activists in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday evening. As she was leaving, a car pulled up and fired nine shots into her vehicle, killing Franco and her driver and wounding her press officer.

Franco, 38, was an outspoken critic of police violence and the deployment of the army into poor neighborhoods. As a young, black, lesbian female activist who grew up in the slums of Rio, she championed the underrepresented and was loved by other activists.

After news of her death, nationwide protests were scheduled with more than 70,000 people and organizations confirming planned demonstrations in Rio de Janeiro.

Franco was elected with the leftist Socialist and Freedom Party in 2016 as the fifth-most voted councilor in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second-largest city with a population of more than six million.

The Socialism and Freedom Party condemned the murders, saying the organization is angry and in pain.

"Marielle's role as councilor and human rights activist is proud of all the militancy of PSOL and will be honored in the continuity of her struggle. We cannot rule out the hypothesis of political crime, that is, an execution," the party in a statement. "We demand immediate and rigorous investigation of this heinous crime. We will not shut up!" </s> An investigation has been opened in France after a vegan activist posted on social media that she had "zero compassion" for a butcher who was killed in a recent terrorist attack in the southwestern part of the country.the person wrote in a message discovered by French authorities on Monday. The activist added that the butcher's death was "justice,"before quickly deleting the post, according to a judicial source cited by 20 Minutes. She was later taken into custody , according to Le Parisien.The attack saw two civilians - including butcher Christian Medves - killed. Others were wounded and hostages were taken.A policeman at the scene, who offered to take the place of the hostages, also died as a result of the attack after succumbing to his injuries.That officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, has been hailed a hero by the French government. However, one French politician took to Twitter to celebrate his death."Whenever a policeman is shot... I think of my friend Remi Fraisse,"former French parliamentary candidate Stephane Poussier wrote, referring to a Green activist killed by a police stun grenade during a 2014 protest. "And this time it was a colonel, great! Additionally, it means one less Macron voter," he continued.A national ceremony was held for Medves at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris on Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron awarded the deceased officer France's highest accolade, the Legion d'Honneur, saying that the 44-year-old symbolized the "French spirit of resistance." </s> The French policeman killed in last Friday's attack on a supermarket in southern France has been honoured in a ceremony, led by President Emmanual Macron. Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame swapped places with a hostage during the supermarket attack in Trebes, saving her life, but losing his own. He has been posthumously awarded France's highest award for bravery. </s> Image copyright AFP / GENDARMERIE NATIONALE Image caption Lt-Col Arnaud Beltrame was killed after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege in south-west France

A former French left-wing parliamentary candidate has been arrested over his tweets about a policeman killed during a jihadist siege in southern France last week.

Stéphane Poussier appeared to celebrate the death of Lt-Col Arnaud Beltrame, saying it was great.

He added that the death in the town of Trèbes meant one less voter for President Emmanuel Macron.

French media say he could be charged with apologising for terrorism.

Mr Poussier's Twitter account has since been deleted. It is unclear if this action was taken by him or the platform, after the tweets caused an outcry and were reported by other social media users.

The ex-candidate said the death made him think of a friend, activist Remi Fraisse, who died after police threw a concussion grenade during protests in 2014.

Col Beltrame, 44, died after being shot when a jihadist stormed a supermarket in Trèbes on Friday.

He has been hailed as a national hero after trading places with one of the hostages.

He will be honoured in a national memorial in Paris in the coming days.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "This was a heroic act" on the part of the lieutenant-colonel, says Interior Minister Gérard Collomb

Friday's attack - which killed four people - was the worst jihadist attack under Emmanuel Macron's presidency.

The maximum penalty for apology for terrorist acts is seven years in prison and a fine of €100,000 (£90,000; $120,000), according to Le Monde newspaper.

Stéphane Poussier stood as a candidate for La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), the far-left party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, during legislative elections in 2017.

The party has expelled Mr Poussier, calling his tweets "shameful and abject".

Mr Mélenchon also tweeted to condemn the "disgusting" remarks and to praise Col Beltrame for giving his life for the service of others.
Socialist Party National Assembly member Corinne Erhel dies after collapsing during a speech at a rally in support of Emmanuel Macron in Plouisy.