La France insoumise deputy Abdelkader Lahmar, 54, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 municipal elections in Vaulx-en-Velin, in the Lyon metropolis. Joined by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, he is forming an alliance with communists, ecologists, and former Mélenchon supporters to challenge outgoing Socialist mayor Hélène Geoffroy.
On Saturday, January 10, Abdelkader Lahmar, deputy for the 7th constituency of Rhône, declared his candidacy from his home neighborhood in Vaulx-en-Velin. This event kicks off his campaign for the March 2026 municipal elections, backed by an unprecedented alliance with the French Communist Party (PCF), local ecologist militants, and members of L’Après, a group of former Mélenchon supporters.
Lahmar has criticized previous terms, alleging urban renewal has displaced low-income residents from popular neighborhoods through insufficient social housing, in the name of a social mix that insults the city's working-class history. He implicitly targets outgoing PS mayor Hélène Geoffroy, accusing her of clientelism that undermines the town. “I want this city to regain its pride,” he told Le Monde.
For this launch, the candidate strolled with Mélenchon through the Mas du Taureau market. While the Insoumis leader took selfies amid the crowd, Lahmar handed out flyers and urged voter registration: “You have to vote, otherwise we're just tourists here!” This coalition aims to rally left-wing forces to oust the current leadership and restore more inclusive governance.
