The prefect, Hervé Brabant, was the guest of 3rd grade students from the Defense Class of Victor Hugo College. The prefect, Hervé Brabant, was welcomed by David Tournier, the principal, and Loïc Ginières, the teacher, for ninety minutes of fascinating discussions with this former director of public finances appointed prefect of Ariège, in office since Monday, November 10, 2025. A first appointment for this high-ranking official from Vosges, embodying republican authority in the department. “You are called on Tuesday evening to be told that the next day, in the Council of Ministers, you will be appointed prefect in the department of Ariège.” From there, a timeless sequence opened, intense, full of curiosity and emotion, listening to a man who became prefect, raised by a grandfather who was a resistant from the very beginning. “I come from Vosges, a territory of resistance; my grandfather instilled words in me that have always remained rooted in me, including that of commitment. It was important for me to maintain my grandfather’s commitment. As you can see, freedom is fragile, it’s a small flame; committing is also remaining vigilant to prevent the awakening of the beast.” Arriving at the college reception, the guardian of authority expressed all his emotions in discovering the flag that the Defense Class is entrusted with. “The sight of the flag of the 1st French Army Rhine and Danube moved me, I did not expect it, it is that of my grandfather.” This was followed by the story of the end of the war in his village of 1,500 inhabitants, with about a hundred resistors leaving to stop or slow down the German advance while the landing was taking place in Normandy, and only about ten returned. “Prefect, it’s commitment, it’s serving,” emphasizes Hervé Brabant. Then the questions come fast: how does one become a prefect? “After my high school diploma, I did higher studies, experienced internal promotions, without thinking about becoming one, until 2 or 3 years ago…” The students discovered the daily life and role of a senior official. “I work every day, but a baker, a nurse, or a mother also work daily. Whatever the profession, there is a vocation, hours are not counted, and nothing is achieved without work; there is the scheduled one and the unexpected one, like the recent landslide on the RN 20 or the agricultural crisis. The phone can ring at any time, day or night, tirelessly.” Prefect Hervé Brabant touched hearts and minds through rich exchanges of details, anecdotes, but also civic messages, and praised the work of the students. He was accompanied by Delphine Lemaire, sub-prefect, and Lieutenant Colonel of the firefighters, Gaël Mailfert. And a final message before parting: “There are no jobs for boys or girls, there is only what you want to do. Good luck to all, let’s not forbid ourselves anything, no summit is unattainable.”
