Franco-Spanish lawyer and presidential candidate Juan Branco has been hospitalized after allegedly being poisoned in Africa with a bacteria considered “ultra-rare” and one of the deadliest in the world: invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS). The incident has caused a significant stir in France and triggered a high-level investigation currently being conducted under intense secrecy.
As of now, no medical results or conclusive diagnostic tests have been released, fueling suspicions of a possible covert operation. Meanwhile, security around Branco has been dramatically increased: an armed French intelligence officer is guarding his hospital room around the clock, reflecting that authorities consider his situation extremely sensitive—both medically and politically.
The difficulty in organizing his repatriation adds further uncertainty to a case already riddled with questions. The inability to transfer him to France raises not only concerns about his clinical condition but also potential risks to his surroundings or even national security.
Microbiology experts consulted by French media agree that deliberately causing an invasive iGAS infection is technically possible but highly complex. Such an attack would likely require a modified or particularly aggressive strain, presumably obtained from a controlled environment such as a laboratory, and direct, well-timed contact with the victim—taking into account their immune status and general health. France reports approximately 500 cases of invasive iGAS each year, with a fatality rate of around 25%, making the bacterium an uncommon but extremely dangerous threat.
One of the key questions the investigation must address is whether this specific strain was genetically altered. The possibility of a lab-designed variant for hostile purposes would open up a new scenario with far-reaching legal and political consequences. Investigators must also consider other explanations: accidental infection, unintentional exposure, or a premeditated criminal act.
Three days before falling ill, Branco gave an interview to the outlet Thinkerview in which he suggested that the King of Morocco might possess compromising information about French political leaders. During the conversation, he hinted that past diplomatic tensions between Paris and Rabat—similar to those currently straining France’s relationship with Algeria—were linked to “mutualization instruments,” referring to private data of French leaders. “We won’t say more, but those who know, know,” Branco added, refusing to elaborate further but clearly suggesting the existence of alleged political espionage practices.
