Fatal Tram Accident in Villeurbanne
A severe tram accident occurred yesterday, March 17, 2026, on Cours André-Philip in Villeurbanne, near the Tonkin area. A car collided head-on with a T1 tram, leading to a heavy toll. Among the three occupants of the car, two have been confirmed deceased. The tram subsequently derailed due to the impact. An investigation into the incident has been launched.
Lyon Municipal Elections: Doucet-Aulas Duel in Second Round
The first round of the 2026 municipal elections in Lyon has concluded, with Grégory Doucet taking the lead. Despite numerous pre-election polls placing Jean-Michel Aulas ahead, he ultimately secured second place. The second round will now see a direct confrontation between Doucet and Aulas.
Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi, the Insoumise candidate, announced a technical merger of her list with that of Grégory Doucet for the second round. Aulas’s supporters are hoping for a shift in momentum by Sunday, notably by criticizing the alliance between the outgoing mayor and La France Insoumise.
Aulas is expected to announce today whether he will accept a debate with Grégory Doucet.
Tense Metropolitan Elections: La France Insoumise’s Warning
The situation is more strained for the metropolitan elections. Gabriel Amard, an Insoumise deputy and head of the list for Villeurbanne, expressed serious concerns in a post on X, stating that “the hour is grave.” He warned that “the reactionary right is at the gates of power in the Metropolis of Lyon.”
Amard criticized the local allies of the ecologists, particularly the Socialist Party led by Hélène Geoffroy, for seemingly prioritizing “political posturing over the concrete improvement of the lives of residents.” He described this as a “dangerous position,” also pointing fingers at Bruno Bernard.
La France Insoumise has proposed an agreement for the Metropolitan elections that “respects the forces present without imposing conditions.” The party of Jean-Luc Mélenchon has threatened to maintain its lists in all qualified constituencies if discussions fail.
Other Key Developments in Lyon
- Georges Képénékian (3.5% in the first round) will not participate in the second round of the municipal elections. However, the former mayor of Lyon has called for “making local democracy live” and announced the launch of a “Citizen May Month,” without endorsing any candidate for the second round.
- Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert, the diverse left candidate, cannot maintain or merge her list for the central municipal ballot. The former mayor of the 1st arrondissement has not yet given any directives for the second round.
- In the Rhône department, 242 communes, representing 91%, elected their mayors in the first round, thus avoiding a second round.
- The Michelin Guide ceremony honored two Lyon restaurants and one in the Metropolis yesterday evening with stars.
These events underscore a dynamic period for Lyon, marked by both tragic incidents and significant political developments ahead of the crucial second round of elections.
