Claude Malhuret

Claude Malhuret (; born 8 March 1950) is a French physician, lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the Senate since 2014, representing the department of Allier. A member of Horizons (HOR), he has presided over the centre-right The Independents – Republic and Territories (LIRT) parliamentary group in the Senate since 2017.

Previously, Malhuret was Secretary of State for Human Rights (1986–1988), Mayor of Vichy (1989–2017), a member of the National Assembly (1993–1997) and of the European Parliament (1989–1993).

Early life and career Malhuret was born in Strasbourg. After completing his doctorate in medicine at the University of Paris, he worked as a hospital intern. In 1973, Malhuret participated in some voluntary overseas work with Coopération Française, before being employed by the World Health Organization in India.

Political career

Career in government From 1986 to 1988, Malhuret served as Secretary of State for Human Rights in the government of Prime Minister Jacques Chirac, the first in this position.

Member of the European Parliament, 1989–1993 From 1989 to 1993, Malhuret was a Member of the European Parliament. In parliament, he served on the Committee on Political Affairs (1989–1990) and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (1992–1993). In addition to his committee assignments, he was part of the parliament's delegation for relations with Japan.

Mayor of Vichy, 1989–2017 Malhuret was elected mayor of Vichy and President of the Vichy Urban District in 1989. He initiated a massive programme to modernize and restore the glory of the town, alongside other economic partners. This included the construction of a vast pedestrian area, upgrading of various hotels and renovation of the spas and Opera House.

Malhuret stepped down to vice-president of the Vichy Urban District in 2001, but remained the mayor of Vichy.

Member of the Senate, 2014–present Malhuret first became a member of the French Senate in the 2014 elections.

In 2016, Malhuret publicly endorsed Alain Juppé in The Republicans' primaries for the 2017 presidential election.

In 2021, when Agir began to move closer to Macron's Renaissance, he joined Horizons instead.

In 2023, Malhuret was the Senate's rapporteur on a proposal to ban video-sharing application TikTok.

2025 speech

On 4 March 2025, Malhuret delivered an eight-minute speech to the French Senate about Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and NATO. Critical of the Trump administration, the speech received significant attention in social media and mainstream media around the world.

Other positions Malhuret served as a member of the Board of Directors of French nursing home chain Korian from 2003 to 2014.