How to catch up with Jean-Michel Aulas? Lyon mayoral candidate, former president of Olympique Lyonnais has been leading the polls since the start of the municipal election campaign. If the vote were held next Sunday, he would be ahead well before the first round, well ahead of the city’s environmentally conscious mayoral candidate for re-election, Grégory Doucet.
In a press release this Monday, November 24, the mayor of the Gaul capital proposed to his main rivals to hold a debate “before the year-end celebrations”, so that he said it would be possible to carry out a “dignified campaign”.
Since the announcement of Jean-Michel Aulas’ candidacy, tensions between the two camps have increased. In October, a giant banner, which read “in Lyon, only Gerland’s lawns are green”, caused controversy. Contacted by Le Parisien, Jean-Michel Aulas’ team assured that they had nothing to do with the banner. However, two movements supporting municipal elections, Cœur Lyonnais and Génération Aulas, have spread the initiative widely.
In his press release, Grégory Doucet accused the former OL boss of methods “that have no other purpose than to create confusion and doubt”. This elderly group was particularly criticized for proposing measures that did not fall within the scope of competence of the city of Lyon, but the scope of the metropolitan city, such as free public transport.
Only three weeks to argue?
Speaking to the local press, Jean-Michel Aulas’ team announced that they had rejected Grégory Doucet’s proposal. “The time is now for dialogue and exchange of ideas with Lyonnais, who is aware of Jean-Michel Aulas’ proposal,” argued this source, reports BFM Lyon. He and his team intend to propose “a project that matches what Lyon deserves”.
“The time for the debate will come after the official submission of the list and with the candidates who have submitted the list in the nine constituencies,” assured the candidate’s team.
In accordance with the provisions for holding the 2026 regional elections, the deadline for submitting candidates for the first round is set on Thursday, February 26, at 18.00 WIB. The official opening of the election campaign will take place a few days later, on March 2.
Barring a change of heart, Jean-Michel Aulas can wait until the final weeks before the March 15 2026 election to compare his ideas with those of Grégory Doucet. Opinion polls say the former OL boss would get 47% of the vote if the election were held this Sunday. The outgoing mayor will get 27% of the vote. Followed by rebel candidate Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi (9%) and RN candidate Alexandre Dupalais (6%).
