Grégory Doucet Re-elected as Lyon Mayor Amidst Tensions
Lyon, March 29 – Grégory Doucet was officially re-elected as the Mayor of Lyon on Friday, March 27, during the inaugural municipal council, securing 46 out of 73 votes. He symbolically received the mayoral sash from his direct rival and now the doyen of councillors, Jean-Michel Aulas. Aulas wasted no time in initiating hostilities, stating that Lyon residents had placed the majority “under democratic tutelage,” signaling a potentially contentious political atmosphere.
In a measured speech, the Green mayor affirmed his commitment to continuing the transformations already underway, while making humanism a central pillar of his new mandate. Doucet outlined his intentions to provide a “fair and transparent framework” for the city across areas such as housing, security, health, and the environment.
Véronique Sarselli Takes Métropole Presidency, First Clash with City Hall
A new political era has begun with Véronique Sarselli’s election as president of the Lyon Métropole, securing 91 out of 150 votes, succeeding Bruno Bernard. In her inaugural address, Sarselli pledged to “govern with the mayors,” extending an olive branch to the City of Lyon, led by Grégory Doucet. However, the cohabitation is anticipated to be challenging.
The first illustration of this tension came with the immediate suspension of the project to transform the right bank of the Rhône, an emblematic initiative of the Greens. Sarselli also confirmed her intention to abandon the TOEL project in favor of Metro E and to launch an audit of the Métropole’s finances. “I will defend the interests of the city,” Grégory Doucet responded, indicating the start of a political tug-of-war.
Urban Unrest Grips Several Métropole Communes
Law enforcement was heavily deployed this week following a series of riots across the Lyon metropolitan area. The unrest was sparked by the severe biting of a young man by a municipal police dog in Rillieux-la-Pape on March 21. Scenes of chaos were reported in Rillieux-la-Pape, Saint-Priest, Vaulx-en-Velin, and several sensitive neighborhoods in Lyon.
Disrupted public transport, deliberate arsons, stone-throwing, and fireworks launched at officers created a nightmarish situation for residents and law enforcement. Dozens of individuals were arrested, with most being minors.
Far-Right Leader Arrested During Homage to Quentin Deranque
Eliot Bertin, a prominent figure of Lyon’s far-right, was placed in pre-trial detention on Thursday, March 26, for violating his judicial supervision. He is suspected of attending the march in homage to Quentin Deranque, who was killed in February by members of a far-left group. Bertin, a former leader of the far-right, had been indicted for his alleged involvement in an attack on an Old Lyon community center in 2023.
Concurrently, eleven activists were searched and questioned earlier in the week as part of the investigation into Deranque’s death. Investigations are ongoing to precisely determine responsibilities.
Municipal Elections 2026: Recourse Petitions on the Rise
The municipal elections held on March 15 and 22 continue to generate controversy. Recourse petitions have been filed in Meyzieu, Vénissieux, and Vaulx-en-Velin. In Meyzieu, outgoing mayor Christophe Quiniou is challenging alleged irregularities in the ballot. In Vénissieux, where the election was decided by just 25 votes, multiple appeals have been lodged amid suspicions of fraud and anomalies in signatures.
In Vaulx-en-Velin, candidate Christine Bertin is contesting the invalidation of her ballots. In Lyon, Jean-Michel Aulas has also initiated a double procedure before the administrative court and the campaign accounts commission, asserting that there is a chance for his appeal to succeed. Should judges determine that the integrity of the election has been compromised, new elections could be organized in certain communes.
Source: lyoncapitale.fr
