Gaël Perdriau, the mayor of Saint-Étienne in central France, will face trial in September over allegations that he used a compromising sex tape to blackmail a political rival, a court ruled on Friday.
Prosecutors allege that Perdriau, 52, orchestrated a scheme in 2015 involving footage of his then-deputy mayor, Gilles Artigues, with a male escort in a Paris hotel. According to court documents reviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), Perdriau allegedly demanded political loyalty and electoral concessions from Artigues in exchange for keeping the video private.
Lyon’s chief prosecutor, Thierry Dran, said in a statement that investigating magistrates had ordered Perdriau to stand trial on charges of blackmail, theft, embezzlement of public funds by a public official, and participation in a criminal association. The case, initially brought to light by a whistleblower in 2022, centers on the 2015 recording of Artigues receiving a massage from the escort.
Despite being expelled from the conservative Republicans party and facing calls to resign, Perdriau has denied wrongdoing and remains in office. He has even suggested he may seek re-election in 2026.
The trial is scheduled to run from September 22 to 26, barring any appeals. When contacted by AFP on Friday, Perdriau declined to comment, and his lawyers were unavailable for response.
The case has drawn significant attention in France, underscoring tensions within local politics and raising questions about the misuse of power.