This Monday, the Saint-Louis district woke up in pain. The baker in this district of the 15th arrondissement of Marseille has died. The information was first revealed by the LFI sector deputy, Sébastien Delogu. “I learned with great sadness of the disappearance of my friend found hanged in his bakery,” wrote the parliamentarian on Facebook this Monday morning.
Contacted by 20 Minutes Marseille, the firefighters confirm having been called this Sunday at 9:45 p.m. for an intervention at 131 avenue de Saint-Louis. Arriving on site at 9:54 p.m., they found a man in his fifties hanging, and pronounced dead after an attempt at resuscitation.
This man, in the words of Sébastien Delogu, is “a real figure in Saint-Louis, a historic baker in the neighborhood, appreciated by all. » “He was truly the emblematic baker of Saint-Louis,” confirms sector mayor Nadia Boulainseur. He also made very good cakes. When we held consultations on the high-level service bus, he was present and held all the meetings. He was truly someone who was very involved in everything that affected neighborhood life. »
The price of energy involved?
The day after his death, the Besançon baker Stéphane Ravacley, former candidate in the legislative elections for Nupes, known in particular for his hunger strike started in 2021 in support of his Guinean apprentice threatened with expulsion, broadcast on Twitter a video about this drama. The person concerned claims in particular that the suicide of the Marseille baker is linked to the energy crisis. A video that quickly became viral, shared by many French politicians, from Gilbert Collard to the first secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure.
The matter even reached the National Assembly this Tuesday. In a question to the government to which he associates Sébastien Delogu, the deputy for Eure Philippe Brun questioned Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne on this subject. “In Marseille, a baker ended his days, like so many others before him,” laments the parliamentarian. Like 25% of our craftsmen who today declare that they are thinking about suicide when 40% admit to having already thought about taking the act. » And to worry about artisans “caught by the throat by the explosion in the price of energy” and the lack of action from the State in the matter according to this socialist deputy.
What is the government’s response?
In response, the Minister for Commerce and Crafts Olivia Grégoire sent her “support” on behalf of the government, to the victim’s relatives, in particular his partner. “I called the prefect this morning, as well as the services of the general directorate of public finances,” she specifies before indicating that the business in question “did not have any difficulties in terms of energy. » “I checked all tax debts, social debts, but also its situation with suppliers,” assures Olivia Grégoire. And to accuse: “What is indecent is political recovery. What is indecent is to mix everything up. What is indecent is to link things that are not to be linked. »
Where is the investigation?
Contacted by 20 minutesneither the public prosecutor nor the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental public security directorate responded to our requests to refute or confirm this hypothesis of suicide linked to the increase in energy.
“I know that on Friday evening, this baker had a conversation with his partner, who happens to be my former apprentice,” says Monique Imbert, president of the union of master craftsman bakers and pastry chefs in Bouches-du-Rhône. He had to buy back the walls after having bought back his shares. He was also looking to replace two members of his staff who were on sick leave. The financial cause does not seem plausible to me. When we talk about buying back shares and replacing staff, this is not the speech of someone who is at the end of his rope. » “I have no information that points in this direction,” confirms Nadia Boulainseur. According to our information, the family is currently refusing to comment on this tragedy.