Aulas and Doucet Head for Tight Runoff in Lyon Mayoral Race

Lyon is bracing for a closely contested runoff election on March 22nd, as former Olympique Lyonnais (OL) president Jean-Michel Aulas and incumbent Mayor Grégory Doucet emerged as the frontrunners in the first round of municipal elections on March 15th, 2026. Both candidates secured 36.8% of the vote, according to initial estimates from IPSOS / BVA .

First Round Results

The first round saw a fragmented field, with several other candidates vying for votes. Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi of La France Insoumise (LFI) garnered 10.5% of the vote, while Alexandre Dupalais of the Union for French Democracy/National Rally (UDR/RN) received 7%. Georges Képénékian (DVC) secured 3.9%, and Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert (DVG) obtained 3.6%. Other candidates failed to surpass 0.6% .

Aulas and Doucet Clash

The race has been marked by increasingly sharp exchanges between Aulas and Doucet. Aulas, despite initially postponing a formal candidacy announcement, has repeatedly criticized the current administration’s record. Doucet, in turn, has accused Aulas of aligning with far-right ideologies and engaging in “cynical” political maneuvering . Doucet went as far as labeling Aulas an “enemy of the Republic” earlier this month, alleging a drift towards the right and complicity with extremist groups .

Key Issues

The campaign has focused on issues of urban development, environmental policy, and public safety. Aulas has accused the current administration of “concreting” Lyon, while Doucet has highlighted his administration’s efforts to reclaim space from roadways, plant trees, and create green spaces – citing 14 hectares reclaimed from asphalt, 11,800 trees planted, 129 streets greened, and 54 orchards created .

Looking Ahead to the Runoff

Aulas expressed “disappointment” at the close results but vowed to fight for victory in the second round. Doucet, meanwhile, expressed optimism about the “dynamic” momentum and anticipates continuing that trend toward the runoff . The runoff election on March 22nd is expected to be a tight contest, with both candidates likely to emphasize their contrasting visions for the future of Lyon.