In Brest, the elected Charles Kermarec suspected of sexual violence against minors resigns

Another political thunderclap in Brest. The municipal councilor of Brest Charles Kermarec resigned from the municipal council, this Friday, May 26, 2023. It was the municipality of Brest which announced the information, in a press release broadcast at noon, this Friday. The text mentions “a presumption of serious facts implicating Charles Kermarec”. These facts from “concordant testimonies” would have been reported in recent days to François Cuillandre.

The mayor of Brest and president of Brest Métropole, therefore seized the public prosecutor under article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which obliges the authorities who acquire knowledge of a crime or misdemeanor to proceed immediately report it to the public prosecutor.

Suspected of child sexual abuse

“François Cuillandre informed Charles Kermarec who presented him today (Editor’s note: this Friday) with his resignation from the municipal council, which also entails his resignation from the metropolitan council”, continues the press release. “In this context, the secrecy of the investigation is more rigorous than ever in order to protect all those concerned. The community, for its part, immediately assumed the responsibilities incumbent upon it,” concludes the City.

The facts that were brought to the attention of François Cuillandre are not detailed. But according to our information, the suspicions weighing on Charles Kermarec, would not be linked to his activity as an elected official, and would therefore not concern the community itself. Charles Kermarec is suspected of having sexually abused minors around him. Asked, the public prosecutor Camille Miansoni indicated, this Friday afternoon, to have “no communicable element at this stage. »

Elected since 2014

Former employee of France Telecom, Charles Kermarec entered politics in 2014, at the end of his professional career, by joining the left-wing group Brest Nouvelle Citoyenneté (BNC) chaired by Patrick Appéré. Elected in 2014 within the Cuillandre majority, he was appointed delegate for the accessibility of public space and buildings. Re-elected in 2020, he became a municipal councilor in charge of sports equipment. Then, following the sudden death of Vefa Kerguillec, another elected member of the BNC group, in December 2022, he was promoted to vice-president of Brest Métropole in January 2023, delegate for sports equipment and water sports.