Every Sunday, Le Progrès reviews the six most significant news stories in Lyon from the past week. This week’s headlines include a debate between Jean-Michel Aulas and Grégory Doucet on major events, Georges Képénékian’s pragmatic proposals, the announcement of three new media libraries by Doucet, an uproar following criticism of antisemitism, a favorable poll for Aulas, and park-and-ride solutions to record traffic jams.
1. Battle of Major Events: Aulas and Doucet Respond Tit-for-Tat
Invited on Thursday, January 29, to “Lyon Politiques” on BFM Lyon, Jean-Michel Aulas unveiled several key measures to restore Lyon’s status as a European capital. His absolute priority is the return of the Tour de France to the Rhône, with the ambition of hosting a stage start as early as 2028, following discussions with director Christian Prudhomme. “Lyon will have the means,” assured the former OL boss, who also plans a revamped Fête des Lumières, with Jean-Michel Jarre recruited as artistic director for an “evolving conception of culture.” Challenged by a critical op-ed from Grégory Doucet, who estimated his promises at 110 million euros, Aulas calmly retorted: “I respect him in his function, he can respect me too,” referring to his career at the head of “three listed companies” and a “major club.”
On Friday morning, the Green mayor responded on the same channel: he himself met Prudhomme a year ago to propose the 2028 Women’s Tour de France, “because Lyon is a committed city,” and the Women’s Champions League final in the same year, after a recent exchange with Michele Kang. He also confirmed Lyon’s hosting of the 2028 Ice Hockey World Championship at the LDLC Arena as a rehearsal for the 2030 Winter Olympics, and expressed openness to the opening ceremony at the Groupama Stadium. Regarding Jarre, whose desire to return to Lyon he knows, Doucet hinted: “We have already considered something together.”
2. Képénékian Unveils His First Proposals: “Let’s Stop Believing the Floodgates Are Open”
Credited with 4% of voting intentions, center-left candidate Georges Képénékian, who declared his candidacy in December, presented his lead candidates for two Lyon districts and four metropolitan constituencies on Thursday, January 29, amidst an “agitated and aggressive” campaign. Positioning himself as a “third way” without “unrealistic proposals” or “disengagement,” he adopted a “turtle” strategy against the “hares,” with the primary objective of the central city hall and targeted support in the 4th and 9th arrondissements.
Among his first seven intentions: creating 10,000 housing units for students and young professionals, reorganizing primary school hours with five consecutive mornings and four lighter afternoons “to promote learning,” and installing reversible heat pumps in schools and public buildings. For security, he aims for the current 364 municipal police officers (310 operational), through official housing to attract volunteers; for missing doctors, “supporting those in place” rather than multiplying health centers. Culture and economy: a business incubator in priority urban policy neighborhoods to “promote talent,” and a House of World Cultures as an “Erasmus of culture” to network stakeholders. A stark financial reminder: “80% of the City’s budget (1.1 billion/year) is preempted by obligations, let’s stop believing that the floodgates are open.”
3. Three New Media Libraries Promised by Grégory Doucet
In a press release this Tuesday, Grégory Doucet, seeking re-election, announced the creation of three new neighborhood libraries if his left-green alliance wins, in addition to the flagship project of transforming the La Part-Dieu library. This aging behemoth will receive 140 million euros to expand by 4,000 m², renovate its infrastructure, and completely rethink its uses, with a modern and accessible approach.
The first new full media library will be located in the heart of Guillotière, a multicultural and dense neighborhood in the 7th arrondissement, to anchor public reading where needs are exploding. The second will land in Confluence, the new face of the 2nd arrondissement, mixing offices, housing, and leisure, to enrich the cultural offer of a rapidly changing sector. Finally, the third will take place in the Grand Trou – Moulin-à-Vent neighborhood, in the heart of the popular 8th arrondissement, cohabiting with other services within a multifunctional social center, for an integrated approach promoting access for all.
4. Antisemitism: Doucet’s Camp Outraged by Attacks from Aulas’ Supporters
During the 81st anniversary ceremony of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Sunday, January 25, at Place Carnot, in front of 400 people at the Shoah memorial (Lyon 2e), Grégory Doucet delivered a solemn speech firmly condemning “antisemitism that kills, wounds, and desecrates,” without any context justifying hatred. However, supporters of Jean-Michel Aulas, the favorite in the polls, immediately criticized the mayor on X: councilor Franck Lévy criticized a mix of “commemoration, ego, and susceptibility,” while Pierre Oliver (LR) denounced Doucet’s “ambiguities” – refusal to name far-left antisemitism, a pro-Hamas flag on the town hall, controversial honorary citizenship such as that of Hussam Abu Safiya (hospital director in Gaza, suspected of links with Hamas by the Crif) or Salah Hamouri – arguing that “Auschwitz is not commemorated vaguely.”
Barbara Vélon, head of the Cœur Lyonnais list in the 8th arrondissement, went further by accusing Doucet of having “never openly condemned antisemitism.” In a press release on Monday, left and Green elected officials retorted, calling these attacks “an infamous game,” “false and ignoble accusations,” pointing to the “shameful amalgam” between Palestine and Hamas: “Hamas is a terrorist organization, we unequivocally condemn the attack of October 7, 2023.” “The campaign does not excuse everything,” concluded Doucet’s camp, calling for reflection rather than excess.
5. Poll: Aulas at 47%, Doucet Stagnates at 25%
Conducted online from January 12 to 19 among 605 registered voters (margin of error 2.8-4.7 points), the OpinionWay poll for LyonMag and Radio Espace confirmed Jean-Michel Aulas in a strong position with 47% of voting intentions in the first round, up one point and back to his October peak. Grégory Doucet, the outgoing mayor, remained stuck at 25%, stable but without the momentum of 2020 when polls underestimated him (average 21% before his surprise victory at 28.46%).
Behind the duel, Alexandre Dupalais (UDR-RN) held 10%, a potentially qualifying threshold for an extended second round; Anaïs Belouassa-Chérifi (LFI) fell to 8%; Georges Képénékian (4%), Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert (3%), Raphaëlle Mizony (NPA, 3%), and Delphine Briday (LO, <1%) dispersed, complicating mergers and dynamics on the left. LyonMag mentioned quadrangular simulations, while Le Progrès recalled the fragility of 2019-2020 polls (Collomb favorite at 27%, Blanc/Doucet tied later): these “snapshots” concealed a fragmentation on the left and a significant RN, imposing tactical choices.
6. 3,000 Additional Park-and-Ride Spaces: The Aulas-Sarselli Duo Against Record Congestion
While the TomTom Traffic Index 2025 crowned Lyon the most congested city in France – a historic record for traffic jams – Véronique Sarselli (LR, Métropole candidate) and Jean-Michel Aulas countered with a plan to “give Grand Lyonnais back their time”: 3,000 additional park-and-ride spaces, connected to strong TCL lines and TER stations in partnership with the Region/SNCF.
Currently 8,500 spaces across 23 sites deemed insufficient, the offer will be enhanced by strategic mapping with metropolitan mayors, better covering Lyon’s entry points and promoting car-to-public transport intermodality. Complement: adaptive traffic light regulation by artificial intelligence, adjusting passage times to real traffic for smoother flow, reducing pollution and unnecessary stops, as desired by expert Delphine Séné. This measure is part of the duo’s mega-project: an 8 km tunnel between Tassin-la-Demi-Lune and Saint-Fons to bypass the Fourvière bottleneck, facing a tense electoral debate on mobility, too “ideological” according to specialists.
Source: https://www.leprogres.fr/elections/2026/02/01/clash-sur-l-antisemitisme-aulas-a-47-les-six-actus-qu-il-ne-fallait-pas-manquer-cette-semaine
