Next Friday, at the Town Hall of Lyon, all eyes will be on a scene that is both formal and full of meaning. Reelected after a hard-fought second round of municipal elections, Grégory Doucet will be officially sworn in by the city council. And it’s his former rival, Jean-Michel Aulas, who will hand him the tricolor sash. A moment that feels almost cinematic, where democracy plays its role to the fullest.
The key role of the council's dean
If this image may be surprising, it actually responds to ; a very precise rule from the General Code of Local Authorities. As the dean of the new municipal council, Jean-Michel Aulas is tasked with presiding over the installation session and officially handing over the scarf to the elected mayor. It's a republican tradition that transcends political divides and, for a brief moment, imposes a touch of institutional elegance.
Despite the handover, the tensions from the election remain palpable. Because behind this image of unity, the atmosphere is still charged. Just narrowly defeated, Jean-Michel Aulas has announced plans to file a complaint, citing irregularities during the voting process. This contestation doesn't prevent the former head of OL from taking his place.elected to the city council, leading the 27 opposition members. A notable turnaround for someone who claimed he wouldn’t sit in case of defeat.
A new term takes shape
Beyond the symbolism, this city council will mark the official kickoff of Grégory Doucet's second term. The deputy mayors are expected to be designated right away, although the decisions are still a bit unclear, particularly regarding the distribution of responsibilities among the different factions of the majority. It remains to be seen how the mayor of Lyon will manage to get along (or not) with the Lyon Metropolis, which shifted to the right in the elections.