La France insoumise (LFI) candidate for Lyon mayor, Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi, held her first meeting on Thursday, November 6, with Clémence Guetté present. Two days earlier, other left-wing groups showed unity behind outgoing ecologist mayor Grégory Doucet. This divided campaign highlights left-wing tensions against right-wing challenger Jean-Michel Aulas.
Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi, 30, deputy for the 1st constituency of the Rhône, launched her campaign for Lyon's municipal elections with a packed meeting on Thursday, November 6. Drawing inspiration from the surprise victory of Zohran Mamdani, 34, elected New York mayor on Tuesday, November 4, she stated: « À l’image de sa belle victoire, combattre la politique nationale, c’est assumer des radicalités concrètes dans les politiques municipales ».
The LFI candidate targeted her main rival without naming him: « Je crois que Lyon mérite mieux qu’un entrepreneur millionnaire, qui navigue entre notoriété passée et démagogie constante. Par chauvinisme lyonnais, nous pouvons le dire, il est le Guignol de la droite et de la Macronie lyonnaise agonisante. » The audience recognized and booed Jean-Michel Aulas, former Olympique lyonnais president, who has been campaigning for weeks with backing from Laurent Wauquiez (Les Républicains, LR) and all right and center factions, including LR, MoDem, Horizons, Renaissance, and UDI.
On the same Thursday, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin visited Lyon to support Aulas, who enjoys strong polling momentum and emphasizes a significant role for civil society.
Two days before Belouassa-Cherifi's meeting, on Tuesday, November 4, other left-wing forces held a gathering to display unity behind outgoing ecologist mayor Grégory Doucet, highlighting a two-phase strategy for Lyon's left.