Jean-Pierre Berger Elected Mayor of Saint-Etienne Following Scandal of Predecessor Gaël Perdriau

On December 11, 2025, Jean-Pierre Berger was elected the new mayor of Saint-Etienne during an extraordinary municipal council meeting, succeeding Gaël Perdriau, who was recently convicted and sentenced for his involvement in a sextape blackmail scandal. Berger, 83, representing the diverse right, secured 31 of 43 votes, while Nicole Peycelon of Les Républicains received 12 votes. Notably, the left-wing opposition did not put forward a candidate.

Gaël Perdriau, who had served as mayor since 2014, was sentenced on December 1 by the Lyon correctional court to four years of imprisonment and declared ineligible for office. The court found him "entirely guilty" of orchestrating a blackmail scheme involving a video of a political rival with a prostitute. Perdriau denies wrongdoing and has appealed the judgment, with his lawyers planning to request his release upon incarceration.

Berger aims to ensure continuity of governance until the municipal elections scheduled for March 2026. This transition comes amid significant political turmoil in Saint-Etienne following the scandal, marking a critical moment for local leadership and public trust.

Berger’s election represents a swift political response to the legal and ethical crisis that has shaken the city's administration, underscoring the priority of stability and steady leadership moving forward.