The end of a long reign. Grégory Doucet became the first environmentalist on Saturday to direct the town hall of Lyon, confirming the departure of a handsome Gérard Collomb despite a stinging defeat at the municipal level, which sounded the death knell for nearly 20 years of power in the capital of Gaul.
"I will spare neither my energy nor my determination to be worthy of the trust which is thus granted to me", promised Gregory Doucet, 46 year old humanitarian executive, only candidate declared during a council met exceptionally behind closed doors - Covid -19 requires - under the gilding of a large living room of the Town hall.
"We are not there to destroy but to build", wanted to reassure the new mayor, elected as expected with 51 votes out of 73. "We think that the city can become inspiring, that it can shine by its exemplarity and a commitment pioneer in climate change mitigation and adaptation ”.
An "indisputable" victory
This installation session, whose very serene climate decided with the sometimes ferocious jousts of the municipal - "the time is not to cross swords", notably underlined the elected republican Etienne Blanc -, was somewhat overshadowed by the absence of ten elected majority, placed in the fortnight after the contamination of one of them with the new coronavirus.
At the opening of the proceedings, Gérard Collomb clarified that the prefecture had judged that there was no reason to postpone the council. But out of respect for health regulations, the outgoing did not pass the scarf to his successor. He just gave it to her.
Worthy in his last outing as a councilor despite his heavy defeat on June 28, the outgoing mayor immediately addressed to elected environmentalists his "warmest congratulations".
"Even if the participation was extremely low, your victory is wide and without discussion, and shows the concerns of our fellow citizens and the youngest" on the future of the planet, he said.
A young and feminized majority
For his longtime opponents and detractors, the former interior minister also did not show resentment. He especially wanted to thank the collaborators and elected officials with whom he worked, ensuring that Lyon had "given meaning" to his life.
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Then, addressed to this new largely feminized and rejuvenated majority (only 16 elected officials retained their seats), the Lyon baron issued a final warning: "Let us follow your convictions, but always favoring the general interest of Lyonnaises and Lyonnais ".
"We will do with them and thanks to them, together," replied Grégory Doucet, before greeting his predecessor, his "passion and energy" which he displayed for the city he had run since 2001.
“You are leaving Mr. Collomb […] many achievements of which we can continue to feel proud,” insisted the elected EELV, stressing that if he leaves the executive, the 73-year-old elected official will be able to continue to distill expertise and "Councils" by sitting as municipal and metropolitan councilor.
An unprecedented take
Still unknown in the Lyon political landscape six months ago, Grégory Doucet is the first environmentalist to lead this city of 500,000 inhabitants, an unprecedented take for the Greens.
His union list from the left largely outdistanced Yann Cucherat, the colt of Gérard Collomb who enjoyed the support of the right, and the dissident LREM Georges Képénékian in a second round of municipal elections marked by record abstention (62%) .
It is another ecologist, Bruno Bernard, who was widely elected president of the powerful metropolis on Thursday, now giving the Greens complete freedom to conduct the affairs of the agglomeration.
"We do not inherit from Lyon, we borrow it for our children", concluded Grégory Doucet, diverting the words of an illustrious Lyonnais, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
