Saint-Étienne mayor on trial over sextape blackmail scandal
The high-profile trial over the so-called “sextape blackmail” scandal opens this Monday in Lyon. Gaël Perdriau, the mayor of Saint-Étienne, along with three other individuals, is accused of attempting to blackmail his former deputy, Gilles Artigues, using a compromising video.
The case, which first came to light in 2022, involves allegations of political jealousy, espionage, extortion, and misuse of public funds. According to prosecutors, Perdriau and his co-defendants orchestrated a plan to trap Artigues in a Paris hotel in 2014, filming him without consent while under the influence of alcohol during a private encounter.
The scandal is linked to local political tensions dating back to the 2014 municipal elections, when Perdriau, from the center-right Les Républicains, won the mayoralty with the support of Artigues’ Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI). Reports suggest that Perdriau feared Artigues’ influence and sought to secure political loyalty through illicit means.
Financial misconduct is also part of the charges. Prosecutors allege that two public subsidies, totaling €40,000, were misappropriated to fund the operation, paying intermediaries involved in setting up the video trap.
If convicted, Gaël Perdriau faces up to ten years in prison, a €1 million fine, and potential ineligibility to hold public office. Despite the allegations, Perdriau maintains his innocence and continues to serve as mayor, asserting his right to explain his position ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
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