Government and politics in Sarthe (Pays de la Loire, France): official figures
Dominique Le Mener has been president of the departmental council of Sarthe since 1 July 2021, according to the national register of elected officials.
How many councillors does Sarthe have?
42 councillors currently sit for Sarthe on the departmental council; they are elected in mixed woman-and-man pairs from its 21 cantons, and the delegation is the 43rd largest of 96 departements.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copyWhen were the last departmental elections in Sarthe?
Most of the current councillors for Sarthe took office on 1 July 2021, after the departmental elections of June 2021; 21 of the 42 are women.
Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copyHow big is the budget of Sarthe?
The departement's main budget totalled €696.90 million of spending in 2025, financed by €693.34 million of revenue including €20.00 million of new borrowing.
Source: Observatoire des finances et de la gestion publique locales (OFGL), from DGFiP accounts · saved copyMore figures
- The councillors representing Sarthe were 62.6 years old on average in October 2026, 12th oldest of 96 departements; the youngest was 35 and the oldest 78. Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copy
- The executive of the departmental council of Sarthe includes 12 vice-presidents, each holding a portfolio such as social action, colleges or roads. Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copy
- 15 of the 42 councillors for Sarthe are retired, and the most common occupation listed is "ancien cadre" (8 members). Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur · saved copy
How Sarthe compares with other departments in France
Average age of departmental councillors (years) (2026)
Sarthe ranks 12 of 96, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Average age of departmental councillors (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Haut-Rhin | 62.8 |
| 10 | Hautes-Pyrénées | 62.8 |
| 11 | Tarn-et-Garonne | 62.7 |
| 12 | Sarthe | 62.6 |
| 13 | Eure-et-Loir | 62.6 |
| 14 | Nièvre | 62.4 |
| 15 | Haute-Vienne | 62.2 |
Number of departmental councillors (2026)
Sarthe ranks 43 of 96, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Number of departmental councillors |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Lot-et-Garonne | 42 |
| 41 | Morbihan | 42 |
| 42 | Oise | 42 |
| 43 | Sarthe | 42 |
| 44 | Yvelines | 42 |
| 45 | Haute-Vienne | 42 |
| 46 | Yonne | 42 |
More on Sarthe: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Pays de la Loire · 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…)
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