Death of French Charlie Kirk' casts a shadow over mayoral campaign in Lyon

"Sometimes people suffer through the construction phase of it, and it's hard to see the positive side until it's finished, he explains, putting on his bicycle helmet just after participating in the laying of the foundation stone for a new project, and acknowledging the potential cost in votes this Sunday in the first round of municipal elections."

"Lyon is the country's third-largest city. It is a bourgeois municipality with a tradition of progress and industry, deeply rooted in a conservative social fabric and indelibly marked by the presence of the Catholic Church. The city is a key location for understanding the country and its evolution."

"The leading candidate is now Jean-Michel Aulas, the long-serving president of the soccer club Olympique Lyonnais, who embodies consensus among the conservative world, precisely at a time when the city has been engulfed in intense ideological tensions following the death of Deranque, a 23-year-old nationalist and member of a far-right French group."

Gregory Doucet, Lyon's Green mayor, has implemented sweeping urban changes over five years, including extensive bike infrastructure, new tram lines, and public housing developments. However, ongoing construction disrupts daily life, potentially affecting his reelection prospects. Lyon, France's third-largest city, traditionally progressive yet deeply conservative, faces a political shift as Jean-Michel Aulas, president of soccer club Olympique Lyonnais, emerges as the leading conservative candidate. Recent tensions stem from the death of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Deranque, allegedly beaten by far-left members, creating significant ideological conflict. The municipal election represents a potential power transfer from progressive to conservative forces after 25 years of progressive leadership.

Read at english.elpais.com