In response to a major political scandal involving a sextape, the city of Saint-Étienne has adopted an ethical charter for its politicians. The scandal, which led to the imprisonment of former mayor Gaël Perdriau, has had a lasting impact on the city. The current municipal team, led by newly elected mayor Régis Juanico from the Socialist Party (PS), aims to move past the controversy. On Monday, September 21, the city council voted to create both an ethical charter and a deontological committee, with a large majority supporting the measures. Only 8 council members abstained from voting on the ethical charter, and 11 abstained from the deontological committee. Most of these abstentions came from members of the far-right party, Rassemblement national. The deontological committee, tasked with overseeing ethical standards in local governance, will be composed of experts, including law professors, former public prosecutors, and former local officials. PS deputy Pierrick Courbon highlighted on social media that the city is making “strong commitments” to become “the most advanced community” in terms of ethics. These commitments include removing the mayor’s reserve power, establishing an independent ethics committee, and publicly disclosing the composition of the mayor’s office. These steps are intended to increase transparency and prevent future misconduct. The sextape scandal has had a long-lasting effect on Saint-Étienne’s political landscape. Former mayor Gaël Perdriau, who was sentenced to prison on September 10 of last year, had blackmailed his first deputy and political rival, Gilles Artigues. In 2014, Perdriau hired an escort boy to seduce Artigues, with cameras secretly placed in the room to film an intimate scene. Perdriau then used the video to blackmail Artigues, who was unaware the encounter was being recorded. This scandal not only led to Perdriau’s imprisonment but also sparked a broader discussion about ethics and accountability in local politics. The new ethical charter and deontological committee are seen as key steps toward restoring public trust in Saint-Étienne’s local government. By implementing stricter ethical guidelines and increasing transparency, the city aims to prevent similar scandals in the future and ensure that political power is exercised responsibly. The measures reflect a broader trend across France toward strengthening ethical standards in public life.