Véronique Sarselli

Véronique Sarselli, a member of Les Républicains (LR) and the mayor of Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, has been elected as the new president of the Lyon metropolitan area. This makes her a key figure in Lyon's political landscape. Her election is newsworthy because it creates a situation of cohabitation, where the city of Lyon is led by the re-elected ecologist mayor, Grégory Doucet, while the broader metropolitan area is now under right-wing leadership. This division represents a significant shift from the previous six years when both the city and the metropolitan area were aligned politically, enabling the ecologists to implement major projects. Sarselli now faces the challenge of managing a diverse majority, maintaining balance, and fostering dialogue with the various municipalities within the metropolitan area. The situation necessitates compromise and collaboration between the city and the metropolitan government on crucial issues like mobility, urban planning, and housing.