top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Councillor role and Brexit

The 900 British people who hold positions as town councillors in France will be able to retain them until at least the next local elections in 2020, whatever the outcome of Brexit.

This was confirmed by the French government during an examination of a French no-deal contingency planning law in the Senate.

The news will be welcomed by many of the Britons sitting on councils, such as Karen Blakemore, from Saint-Merd-de-Lapleau in Corrèze, who has been a local councillor since 2014.

It means, though, that time is limited for those seeking to sit again after spring 2020 as they will need to obtain French nationality. Mrs Blakemore recently put in an application and is hoping it will be processed in time.

“It would have been a very sad situation, had we not been allowed to continue,” she said.

“I always planned to apply for nationality but it’s made me concen­trate my efforts. We’ve both got 10-year cartes de séjour now.”

For Mrs Blakemore, 57, a former university administrator, it was a case of “in at the deep end”, after she was asked if she would like to join the mairie council just a year after she and her husband Tim moved to France.

The village of 173 residents has special traditions for elected councillors, including having a procession to each new councillor’s home to plant a tree (see photo). “It’s to bring you good luck for your future role and elections,” she said. They also install a plaque with a French flag attached – she originally asked permission to add a St George’s flag but now has decided to have two French ones instead.

The couple are the only residents of non-French origin.

“We got as integrated as we could very early on,” she said.

“In the first three years, my jobs included managing a 20-person gîte belonging to the commune. We’re on a popular hiking route and people come from all over France.

“It was a challenge because I only had O-level French but I’m very enthusiastic about speaking it and am not afraid of making mistakes or being corrected. The added difficulty was getting used to the Corrèze accent and the patois the older generation use, like à demo for à demain (see you tomorrow) or mershi instead of merci.”

In addition to around eight meetings a year, plus ceremonies on special occasions such as Remembrance Day, she now works on some of the larger projects at the mairie.

“I have particularly enjoyed being involved in the project to name all of the roads in our commune and the allocation of house numbers prior to fibre being delivered to our area.

“I also help deliver Christmas food parcels to the elderly and housebound and take part in a senior citizens’ meal each year and each July I help run a stand at the village brocante.”

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France