Aulas Leads in Lyon Mayoral Race as Elections Approach

Lyon is gearing up for municipal elections on March 15th, with a runoff scheduled for March 22nd. The race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with Jean-Michel Aulas, former president of Olympique Lyonnais, currently positioned as the front-runner against incumbent Grégory Doucet. The elections will determine all 73 members of the Municipal Council, requiring 37 seats for a majority.

The Candidates and Their Platforms

Jean-Michel Aulas, running without a traditional party label but supported by Les Républicains (LR), Horizons, the Modem, and Renaissance, has gained significant traction in polls. Surveys indicate he could secure between 42% and 47% of the vote in the first round. His campaign focuses on restoring Lyon’s dynamism and securing its place among Europe’s leading metropolitan areas. A key component of his platform is enhanced security, with a proposal to install 600 new surveillance cameras throughout the city, bringing the total to 1,200. He also proposes creating a joint police headquarters for national and municipal forces, estimated to cost 10 million euros, and increasing the municipal police force to 500 officers, alongside a 200-agent metropolitan transport security service.

Incumbent Mayor Grégory Doucet, representing The Ecologists (LÉ), faces an uphill battle, with polls placing him around 30%. He is seeking a second term after being elected in 2020.

Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi, a candidate from La France Insoumise (LFI), is expected to garner around 10% of the vote and potentially remain a contender in the second round. Other candidates include Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert (PRG) and Georges Képénékian, who aim to play a role as potential arbiters, and Alexandre Dupalais (UDR), supported by the National Rally (RN).

Key Issues in the Election

Several key issues are dominating the campaign discourse. Security is a major concern for residents, driving Aulas’s proposal for increased surveillance. Mobility and the vitality of city center businesses are also central themes. Urbanization and rent control are points of contention, with Aulas and other candidates from Coeur Lyonnais advocating for an complete to rent control.

Other Municipal Elections in the Rhône Region

Beyond Lyon, several other cities in the Rhône region are holding municipal elections:

• Villeurbanne: A contested race between outgoing PS mayor Cédric Van Styvandael and Jean-Paul Bret, a former mayor challenging from outside the party, with LFI’s Mathieu Garabédian also in the mix.
• Vénissieux: LFI is targeting this city, with Idir Boumertit challenging incumbent communist Michèle Picard.
• Vaulx-en-Velin: Outgoing socialist mayor Hélène Geoffroy faces a challenge from Abdelkader Lahmar (LFI).
• Oullins-Pierre-Bénite: A new commune formed from a merger, where Jérôme Moroge (LR) is competing against Jean-Charles Kohlhaas (environmentalist).
• Villefranche-sur-Saône: Incumbent Thomas Ravier (various right-wing) is running alongside Pascal Ronzière.

Looking Ahead

The Lyon municipal elections are poised to significantly reshape the political landscape of the city. With Jean-Michel Aulas leading in the polls, the possibility of a candidate without a traditional party label taking the mayoralty is a distinct possibility. The outcome will likely depend on voter turnout and the ability of candidates to forge alliances in the second round, particularly regarding the composition of the Metropolitan Council.