Key Facts
- ✓ Jean-Michel Aulas presented his nine heads of list for the Lyon municipal elections.
- ✓ The lists include elected officials from LR and Renaissance.
- ✓ The movement Cœur lyonnais also features personalities from civil society.
- ✓ Jean-Michel Aulas is the former president of Olympique lyonnais.
Quick Summary
Jean-Michel Aulas has formally introduced the nine candidates leading his electoral lists for the Lyon municipal elections. The former president of Olympique lyonnais is structuring his campaign around a broad coalition designed to appeal to various segments of the electorate.
To build this coalition, Aulas is relying on a mix of political experience and independent voices. His movement, Cœur lyonnais, includes elected officials from established political parties, specifically LR and Renaissance. Additionally, the lists feature personalities from the civil society, highlighting a strategy that values non-political backgrounds alongside seasoned local representatives. This selection process underscores Aulas's intent to create a unified front for the upcoming vote.
Aulas Launches Political Initiative
The former head of Olympique lyonnais, Jean-Michel Aulas, is moving forward with his political ambitions in Lyon. On January 12, 2026, he presented the composition of his lists for the municipal elections. This move solidifies his entry into the local political arena after years of prominence in the sports world.
The core of his strategy is the movement named Cœur lyonnais. This entity serves as the vehicle for his electoral platform. By establishing this movement, Aulas aims to gather a wide range of support from across the political spectrum and civil society.
Strategy: Political Allies and Civil Society 🤝
The composition of the lists reveals a calculated approach to coalition building. Jean-Michel Aulas has not limited his recruitment to a single political ideology. Instead, he has actively sought out representatives from different established groups to ensure a balanced ticket.
The recruitment strategy focuses on two main pillars:
- Local Elected Officials: Candidates from the political parties LR (Les Républicains) and Renaissance have been integrated into the lists. Their experience in local governance is intended to provide administrative weight to the movement.
- Civil Society Personalities: The lists also feature individuals who are not career politicians. These figures are drawn from the broader civil society, bringing external perspectives and professional expertise to the Cœur lyonnais movement.
This dual approach suggests a campaign focused on competence and pragmatism rather than strict partisan loyalty.
The Candidate Lists 🗳️
The presentation of the nine heads of list confirms the geographic scope of the campaign. Jean-Michel Aulas is positioning Cœur lyonnais to compete across the various arrondissements of the city. While the specific names of the candidates were not detailed in the summary, the selection process prioritized the mix of political and civil society backgrounds.
The presence of officials from LR and Renaissance indicates an attempt to bridge traditional divides within the local electorate. By securing these endorsements, Aulas strengthens his legitimacy as a serious contender in the municipal race.
Implications for the Lyon Election
The entry of Jean-Michel Aulas into the municipal race introduces a significant variable into the political landscape of Lyon. His high profile as the former president of Olympique lyonnais brings immediate name recognition to the Cœur lyonnais movement.
Furthermore, the alliance with LR and Renaissance figures creates a formidable bloc that could challenge existing power structures. The emphasis on civil society candidates also appeals to voters seeking change from traditional politics. The election will likely test the effectiveness of this hybrid political model.




