Intense Electoral Campaign for Lyon Municipal Elections 2026 Concludes
Lyon, March 15 – The electoral campaign for the 2026 municipal elections in Lyon and its Métropole has been notably intense, culminating in the first round of voting scheduled for this Sunday, March 15. Nine candidates are vying for the mayoral seat in Lyon.
The previous municipal election in 2020 was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and saw the defeat of Yann Cucherat, Gérard Collomb’s designated successor, by Grégory Doucet, an ecological activist who had never held an elected office.
Emergence of a Right-Left Duel
The 2026 campaign has been largely defined by the emergence of a clear right-left duel, at least according to polls. This contest pits Jean-Michel Aulas, presenting himself as a civil society candidate but endorsed by the right, against Grégory Doucet, representing a union of the left and environmentalists.
This opposition, representing two distinct visions for the city, became evident in late summer 2025 with the confirmation of Aulas’s candidacy. Much like in football, the former president of Olympique Lyonnais’s candidacy developed ‘on the counter-attack’ over several months since early 2025.
The Candidates for Mayor of Lyon
While potential three-way contests in the second round remain a possibility, the direct confrontation between Aulas and Doucet has dominated the political landscape. With no prominent figures readily available among the ‘anti-Doucet’ camp, the businessman and founder of Cegid emerged as a key contender. The question remains whether he will maintain this position until the evening of Sunday, March 22.
The deadline for submitting lists for the second round is Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
The other candidates in the running are: Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert, Georges Képénékian, Alexandre Dupalais, Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi, Delphine Briday, Michaël Jouteux, and Raphaëlle Mizony.
Key Issues in the Campaign
Throughout the campaign, several critical issues have been debated by the candidates:
- Commercial Vacancy: Strategies to combat commercial vacancy in Lyon’s Presqu’île area.
- Housing Crisis: Measures proposed by candidates for the Métropole de Lyon to address the housing crisis.
- Security: Proposals for enhancing security in Lyon.
- Environmental Concerns: Plans for combating fine particle pollution and the role of the Métropole de Lyon in addressing PFAS contamination.
- Fête des Lumières: Discussions on the future role and place of the Fête des Lumières by 2030.
Recent polls indicated a narrowing gap between Aulas and Doucet, with Aulas appearing somewhat fragile just days before the first round, despite being initially considered the favorite.
National Political Figures Join the Fray
The intensity of the elections was further highlighted by a parade of national political figures visiting Lyon ten days before the municipal elections, underscoring the significance of the local contest on the national stage.
Voting Procedures and Uncontested Communes
On March 15 and 22, 2026, residents of the Métropole de Lyon will cast their votes to elect their municipal representatives. Among the 58 communes in the territory, 13 have only one list of candidates, meaning their mayors are already known.
The electoral reform of the voting system in Lyon has also been a topic of discussion, with candidates and observers analyzing its potential winners and losers.
As the first round approaches, all eyes are on Lyon to see how the intense campaign will translate into voter turnout and ultimately, the city’s future leadership.
Source: https://mesinfos.fr/69000-lyon/municipales-2026-a-lyon-retour-sur-une-campagne-electorale-intense-241991.html
