Jacques Berthelot, former mayor of Brest, died on Thursday at the age of 78. He was elected mayor (RPR) of Brest in March 1983, beating the outgoing socialist team led by Pierre Maille, with a lead of 590 votes. A short-lived mandate: a year and a half later, undermined by the Picrocholine wars and the opposing currents of the right of the time, Jacques Berthelot took “the decision to resign from (his) functions as mayor of the city of Brest, in the interest of the city, the people of Brest and the national opposition”.
Suspected of authoritarianism by the RPR Bertrand Cousin, questioned by the deputies of the Republican Party, Jacques Berthelot would have known that his administrative account, initially planned for the municipal council of July 12, 1985, would not have had a majority in the vote. He leaves abruptly, “without precedent in French political life”, does not hesitate to comment on television.
“An elected official committed to his territory and his convictions”
Also a regional advisor, Jacques Berthelot was primarily general advisor to the canton of Brest-Cavale-Blanche-Bohars-Guilers from 1985 to 1998. He served alongside President Charles Miossec throughout his presidency. “He was able to represent, to his side, the interests of the city of Brest and the metropolis that he had so much at heart. He was an elected official committed to his territory and his convictions. On behalf of all the departmental councilors of Finistère, I would like to extend my condolences to his family and loved ones. A minute of silence will be observed during the next plenary session,” announces Maël de Calan in a press release.
Jacques Berthelot had also tried to become a member of parliament. In 1997, he was defeated by the socialist Tino Kerdraon. Five years later, he ran as a dissident to the right-wing candidate, Claudine Péron, but lost this primary on the right, and it was finally the socialist Patrica Adam who was elected.
