Government and politics in Hérault (Occitanie, France): official figures
Kléber Mesquida has been president of the departmental council of Hérault since 1 July 2021, according to the national register of elected officials.
How many councillors does Hérault have?
50 councillors currently sit for Hérault on the departmental council; they are elected in mixed woman-and-man pairs from its 25 cantons, and the delegation is the 21st largest of 96 departements.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copyWhen were the last departmental elections in Hérault?
Most of the current councillors for Hérault took office on 1 July 2021, after the departmental elections of June 2021; 25 of the 50 are women.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copyHow big is the budget of Hérault?
The departement's main budget totalled €1.7 billion of spending in 2025, financed by €1.7 billion of revenue including €110.00 million of new borrowing.
Source: Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts · saved copyMore figures
- The councillors representing Hérault were 60.5 years old on average in October 2026, 47th oldest of 96 departements; the youngest was 34 and the oldest 81. Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copy
- The executive of the departmental council of Hérault includes 14 vice-presidents, each holding a portfolio such as social action, colleges or roads. Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copy
- 18 of the 50 councillors for Hérault are retired, and the most common occupation listed is "ancien cadre" (7 members). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copy
How Hérault compares with other departments in France
Average age of departmental councillors (years) (2026)
Hérault ranks 47 of 96, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Average age of departmental councillors (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Yonne | 60.7 |
| 45 | Ain | 60.6 |
| 46 | Haute-Savoie | 60.6 |
| 47 | Hérault | 60.5 |
| 48 | Guadeloupe | 60.4 |
| 49 | Marne | 60.4 |
| 50 | Deux-Sèvres | 60.4 |
Number of departmental councillors (2026)
Hérault ranks 21 of 96, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Number of departmental councillors |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Finistère | 53 |
| 19 | Calvados | 50 |
| 20 | Dordogne | 50 |
| 21 | Hérault | 50 |
| 22 | Val-de-Marne | 49 |
| 23 | Ain | 47 |
| 24 | Réunion | 47 |
More on Hérault: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Occitanie · France
Sources
- Ministère de l'Intérieur: Répertoire national des élus: conseillers départementaux (mise à jour du 11 août 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7af7a47ebab9…)
- Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts: Comptes des départements 2012-2025 (budgets principaux, 2019-2025 extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3c1b2d8de45d…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.